Murdered Church Organist Was 'Suitable Victim'

A church organist was battered to death with a pick-axe handle on Christmas Eve by two men who had gone out "looking for a suitable victim", a court has been told.

Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster smashed 68-year-old Alan Greaves over the head so hard that his bone splintered into pieces in an attack that was "unsurvivable", it is alleged.

Fuelled by lager and Bacardi and Coke the pair had gone in search of someone to attack after a family party.

They found Mr Greaves, who was walking to St Saviour's Church in High Green, Sheffield, for Midnight Mass on December 24 to play the organ as he had done for 40 years.

The church organist had left his wife, children and friends at the family home.

Robert Smith QC, prosecutor, told Sheffield Crown Court: "In short, the prosecution say that these two men were walking the streets looking for a suitable victim. If it hadn't been Mr Greaves, it would have been someone else."

Mr Greaves suffered "grave and catastrophic" head injuries in the attack and died in hospital three days later.

Maureen Greaves speaking at her husband's funeral

Witnesses said that Bowling and Foster, both aged 22, were spotted shortly after the attack laughing in a park.

Mr Smith also described how Foster visited the scene of the attack the day after Mr Greaves died in hospital and described the attack to a police officer guarding the area as "disgraceful".

He told the officer he hoped those responsible would get hammered in prison for beating up an old man.

Foster denies one count of murder, however, the jury was told that Bowling had already admitted murdering Mr Greaves.

Mr Smith told the court that a pick-axe was found at Bowling's sister's home and that a fragment of wood found embedded in Mr Greaves had been matched to this weapon.

But the prosecutor said scientific analysis of the pensioner's damaged hat showed that a second weapon must have been used in the assault.

Alan Greaves and his wife Maureen on their wedding day

Mr Greaves's widow, Maureen, watched the beginning of the trial from the public gallery, along with other members of her family.

Mr Smith said Bowling and Foster were identified by a number of people after police released CCTV footage of two men.

He said Foster handed himself in to police the day after the footage was publicised but told officers that Bowling was responsible for the attack and he "played no part in it".

Mr Smith said: "The prosecution case is that both of these men were in this together.

"Together they went out on Christmas Eve looking for a suitable victim to attack and the two men together followed Mr Greaves as he walked to St Saviour's Church."

The case continues.

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