Man charged with Thornbury vicar murder

14th February 2012, 17:22

The man accused of the murders of Thornbury vicar Rev. John Suddards and retired teacher Betty Yates has made his first appearance before a High Court judge.

47 year old Stephen Farrow appeared at Bristol Crown Court for a five-minute bail application hearing on Friday 24th Feb after facing North Avon Magistrates' Court the day before.

Farrow, of no fixed address, is accused of the murder of Mr Suddards between February 13 and 15 and the murder of Mrs Yates between January 1 and 5. He also faces a charge of burglary relating to a separate property in Thornbury, south Gloucestershire, between December 21 and January 3.

Farrow, who appeared via video-link from HMP Bristol, spoke only to confirm his name and that he could hear the court proceedings.

Prosecutor Sian Sullivan told the judge that a preliminary hearing had been fixed for March 9 and a plea and case management hearing was to take place on June 1.

Hannah Uglow, defending, confirmed she was happy with the timetable and said that Farrow would not be making a bail application.

Farrow was arrested in Folkestone, Kent, on Sunday 19th Feb  following a tip-off from the public after Avon and Somerset Police launched a nationwide manhunt.