Father Paul Bennett

THE wife of murdered parish priest Father Paul Bennett bravely tried to fight off her husband’s attacker, it emerged today.
Georgina Bennett and his elderly father both witnessed the horrific attack on the doorstep of the vicarage at 2.50pm 14th march.
It is understood that his 58-year-old wife tried in vain to fight off the attacker.
The father-of-two and grandfather-of-one died on the gravel path leading up to the door in the vicarage ground at St Fagan’s Church, Trecynon, Aberdare, after being stabbed several times in the head and chest.
Local lay preacher Mark Williamson-Price, 39, said: “Paul opened the door at the vicarage and was confronted by a man who carried out a frenzied attack.”
Police today revealed that they had a knife, believed to be the murder weapon from the scene.
A 23-year-old man arrested at the scene was still being questioned by detectives today in connection with the murder.
A flat opposite the vicarage was today being examined by police.
People who lived there described the 23-year-old who lived in one of the flat as a “loner”.
Peter Quick, 55, an ex-miner, said: “He didn’t mix with anyone in the flats. I didn’t know him just that he lived in the flats. Apparently he lived in number four.
“He’s been living there for 12 months. He didn’t work and he kept himself to himself.
“He was a loner and he didn’t talk to anyone.
“He always used to wear dark clothing and his mum used to visit him very often.”
The close-knit community is in deep shock and mourning the death of the popular parish priest and devoted family man.
A former plasterer, Father Paul was ordained to the ministry 22 years ago.
He had served in the parish for five years and is described as a much loved , hard working parish priest and a “people’s person”, loved by everybody who knew him.
The church, vicarage and grounds remain cordoned off today as police and forensic officers continued their investigation.
It is understood clergy were allowed to offer prayers alongside Father Paul’s body before it was taken from the scene by hearse.
A candlelit vigil was held last night in St Fagan’s church hall to remember Father Paul.
Archbishop Barry Morgan, who left a three day bishop’s retreat to be with the family when he heard of the murder, said today: “We are all in a deep state of shock. I can’t quite take it all in, but I have to.
“What was remarkable last night was that the parishioners had set up and altar in the church.
"Local people came to say prayers and to light candles but a lot of young people also came.
"The work of a parish priest goes on very quietly and they touch the lives of a lot of people and nobody else knows about that kind of ministry."
Father Paul’s family - his daughter Emma, 32, Nigel, 34, and his grandson John, 11, who all lived at the vicarage are being comforted by relatives and clergy and supported by police family liaison officers.
Horrified residents spoke of their shock at the killing of the friendly and well-liked vicar.
Cheryl Thomas, 40, from Trecynon, said: “Everyone is in shock. We used to see him walking around all the time. He was such a nice man.
“It’s hard to believe how this can happen – especially to a vicar. Nobody is safe these days.”
Mike Davies, 62, from Aberdare, said: “Everyone knew him well and nobody can believe that it has happened. It’s a tragedy.”
One man who was married by Father Paul two years ago, said: “It was such a shock when I heard, I just live opposite him. It’s very shocking.”
Another elderly lady said: “He was a very loveable person. If you wanted to speak to him you could always go and see him.

“Everybody loved him.”

Archdeacon Christopher Smith said: “I knew Paul very well. He was a great man who loved his family and the people in his parish.
“He was a great colleague and great friend to me and I have known him throughout his time in the church.
"He will be a sad loss to the church and the community.”
Dean of Llandaff The Very Reverend John Lewis, said: “This is tragic news.
“Father Paul was a fine, devoted parish priest who brought his people regularly to the cathedral.
“We will be praying for him and his family at every service.”
St Fagans Church stands at the top of a small hill surrounded by trees. The vicarage lies just behind the church, which is surrounded by rows of terraced houses.
Several upset neighbours watched the scene of police activity around the vicarage.
The whole church grounds were sealed off with tape as forensics officers in white overalls examined the vicarage.





MAN REMANDED AFTER THE MURDER OF VICAR

Father Paul Bennett was stabbed to death in his church grounds
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a vicar who was stabbed in the grounds of his church in the south Wales valleys.
Geraint David Evans, 23 and from the same village as the vicar, has appeared at Aberdare Magistrates Court.

Father Paul Bennett, 59, was killed at St Fagan's Church in Trecynon, near Aberdare, on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Evans has been remanded in custody until 23 March when he will appear at Crown Court in Merthyr Tydfil.

The defendant, who has dark hair and a beard and who wore a black tracksuit top, spoke only to confirm his name and address during the brief hearing on Friday.

No application for bail was made by his solicitor, Denny Bryant, and he was remanded in custody by magistrates' chairman Anthony Williams.

Police had been called to the church at around 1450 GMT on Wednesday where they found the body of the father-of-two and where they recovered a knife.


Geraint Evans has been remanded in custody

The family of Father Bennett, who was married with a son, a daughter and a grandson, has released a tribute.

They said: "Paul was a loyal son and a devoted husband, father and grandfather, who spent his whole life putting the thoughts and feelings of others ahead of his own.

"He lived his life for his people and cared deeper than anyone can imagine for his church.

"We loved him dearly and cannot imagine life without him. All we can hope and pray for is that he hasn't lost his life in vain." Man appears in court over vicar killingSep 4 2007




sep 4th 2007


A 24-YEAR-OLD man accused of stabbing a vicar to death in the grounds of his vicarage appeared in court yesterday.

Geraint Evans, of Trecynon, near Aberdare, Cynon Valley, who has previously pleaded not guilty to murdering Father Paul Bennett, did not speak during yesterday afternoon’s hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.

The 59-year-old vicar died on March 14 after being stabbed in the grounds of the vicarage at St Fagans Church, Trecynon.

Evans, of Maes Rhydwen, is due to stand trial on November 12 before a High Court judge, it was announced yesterday by Judge John Curran.

John Jenkins QC, prosecuting, told the court further reports will be made before the trial is set to start. Evans was remanded in custody until his next appearance in court on October 16.

OCT 16TH 2007

Inquiry urged after vicar killing

The family of a vicar stabbed to death outside his vicarage want an inquiry into why no one realised his killer was so dangerous.
Paranoid schizophrenic Geraint Evans, 24, from Trecynon, was detained indefinitely after admitting stabbing Father Paul Bennett, 59.
Father Bennett's relatives said legal and mental health systems should have been aware of Evans's issues.
They feel justice has not been done and said: "Our family need answers."
In a statement, the Bennett family, including the vicar's wife Georgina who witnessed the attack, said: "We will never be able to come to terms with the manner of Paul's death."
His death was "a loss to everyone who knew him and those who will never get the chance," they said.On Tuesday, Evans, who was obsessed with the devil and a heavy drug user, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
His plea was accepted after reports by three doctors confirmed he was mentally ill.
Cardiff Crown Court heard how on 14 March he had called at the vicarage in the grounds of St Fagan's Church in Trecynon near Aberdare, which was overlooked by Evans's home.
He stabbed Father Bennett 22 times in what the victim's family called a "premeditated plan" and a "savage and sadistic attack on an innocent man".
The family said: "We feel that the legal system failed Paul and ourselves. We will never consider this an act of manslaughter.
"The sentencing here does not reflect the crime but an antiquated legal system skewed in favour of the perpetrator.
"It is about time this system was reviewed."
During the court hearing, the judge heard how Evans had never come to the attention of the mental health services system despite a series of events which should have brought him into contact with health care professionals.
David Aubrey QC, defending Evans, told the court that his client had been in care as a child and had a string of minor convictions, including one for arson, which the judge said should have triggered a psychiatric report but never happened.
The court also heard how months before Evans killed Father Bennett, he had cut his own throat in a suicide attempt because he was worried about the delusions he was suffering and feared he might kill someone.
On that occasion he was taken to hospital but discharged himself before he was seen by a psychiatrist.
Father Bennett's family said: "How can a crime like this take place in the 21st Century?
"We cannot believe or accept there were no warning signs.
"Someone must have seen how disturbed this man was and could have reacted to prevent this conclusion.
"Where were the mental health service and other agencies?
"We need to know where the failings have been. We ask that an inquiry be called," they added.
Their sense of injustice was also felt by Father Robert Davies, a vicar in Aberdare, who was a friend of Father Bennett.
"I feel as if this man [Evans] has got away with murder," he said.
"The family are right to feel aggrieved. This was carefully planned out before hand. Father Paul was targeted and selected. It was absolutely horrendous."



Inquiry into stabbed vicar death 13th march 2008


A health watchdog is examining why a man with paranoid schizophrenia who stabbed a vicar to death was not identified as a threat.
News of the inquiry comes a year after Father Paul Bennett was killed outside his vicarage in Trecynon, Aberdare.

Geraint Evans, 24, from Trecynon, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on diminished responsibility.

The inquiry, ordered by the Welsh Assembly Government, is being carried out by Health Inspectorate Wales.

It is understood it will look into why Evans was not known to mental health services and examine the care he received and the events leading to Father Bennett's killing.

Evans, who was obsessed with the devil, was detained indefinitely at a high security psychiatric unit following the case at Cardiff Crown Court last October.

'Brewing inside'

He lived in a flat overlooking the vicarage of St Fagan's Church and had written his plans for the killing on his computer.

In October, the court heard Evans suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and a personality disorder, and had used cannabis and inhaled lighter fuel since his early teens.

Until his arrest for Father Bennett's killing, he had never been under the care of psychiatric services.

At the sentencing, David Aubrey QC, defending, had said: "This was brewing inside the defendant.

"Some people may have been aware of features of his condition, but little if anything was ever done.

"One can only wonder what would have been the result if anyone had done something earlier in his life."

After Evans was sentenced, Father Bennett's family called for a full inquiry.

At the time, Julie Hanchet, a cousin of his widow Georgina, said: "Someone must have known how disturbed this man was and could have intervened.

"Where were the mental health services? We need to know where the failings have been. We ask that an inquiry is called and persons be held accountable. Our family needs answers."

On Friday, parishioners in Trecynon will mark the first anniversary of Father Bennett's death by attending a memorial service at the church.

A Church in Wales spokeswoman said Father Bennett's family had requested the service will be a "quiet occasion for parishioners only".

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan who has welcomed the inquiry, said: "It has been a very difficult year for the parish and it's going to take a long time for it to recover from such a tragedy.

"The thoughts and prayers of the whole church will be with the family as they face this painful anniversary."

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman confirmed "an independent external review into the homicide of Father Paul Bennett is under way and will report later this year."

A spokeswoman for Healthcare Inspectorate Wales said: "We have been asked to undertake a review by the minister for health and social services."

They would make no further comment as they were part way through the investigation, the spokeswoman added.
















“Our thoughts as ever are with the family of Father Bennett"