Children of murdered Betty Yates speak of 'relief' at Farrow verdict (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Children of murdered Betty Yates speak of 'relief' at Farrow verdict

3:22pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in Local

THE children of murdered Bewdley retired teacher Betty Yates have spoken of their relief that their mother’s murderer is “off the streets of Britain”.

Stephen Farrow was today jailed for life for murdering Mrs Yates and Gloucestershire clergyman Rev John Suddards. The jury at Bristol Crown Court returned their verdicts after a trial which lasted more than four weeks.

A statement from Mrs Yates' children, Hazel and David, said it was “important” their mother did “not become defined by the brutality of her death” but was “celebrated for the 77 years of her life”

They also thanked the police and “everybody involved for their tireless work”.

The joint-statement said: “We should all be relieved and thankful Stephen Farrow is off the streets of Britain today. It is clear from his own words had he not been caught he would have continued to kill others and leave more misery in his wake.

“We have seen at first hand the complexity of this murder inquiry and we want to thank the police and everybody involved for their tireless work, their attention to detail and their consideration throughout this process.

“In the most difficult of times you rely on your friends and family and we thank all of you for your help and good wishes over the past months. For our mother there is now some public justice but our personal loss remains raw and will continue.

“[Our mother] will be remembered by her family, friends, colleagues and pupils as a woman who was kind, determined and above all good fun.

“We are not in denial about the circumstances of her death but we can and do choose to concentrate on the joy she gave in life - to do otherwise would be a betrayal".