Betty Yates murder trial latest (From Evesham Journal)

Betty Yates murder trial latest

12:48pm Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News

JURY selection began today in the trial of a man accused of the murders of a retired Worcestershire teacher and a vicar.

Stephen Farrow, 48, denies murdering Betty Yates in January and Rev John Suddards in February.

Farrow, of no fixed address, did admit the separate charge of burgling Vine Cottage in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, between December 21 last year and January 3 this year.

Today at Bristol Crown Court, trial judge Mr Justice Field asked the panel of 60 potential jurors whether the estimated six-week length of the case would cause anyone any difficulties.

The panel was whittled down to 37 by the judge and the remaining jurors in waiting were sent away with a detailed questionnaire about the trial to consider overnight.

The process to select the jury will continue tomorrow morning and a final panel of 12 will be selected at random and sworn in.

Mr Suddards, 59, was found stabbed to death at his home in Thornbury on February 14, while Mrs Yates, 77, was stabbed at her cottage in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on January 2.