Sheffield Church Murder Charges

18 January 2013, 11:00 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Two men charged with murdering a church organist, as he went to mass on Christmas Eve in Sheffield, are due in court later.

68 year old Alan Greaves, was attacked just a few hundred yards from his home as he went to midnight mass. He died three days later in hospital from a serious head injury.

21 year old Ashley Foster and Jonathan Bowling, 22, both from the north of Sheffield, were arrested earlier this month and will appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court over his murder.

Mr Greaves, from High Green, was a lay preacher at St Saviour’s Church, which was within walking distance of his house.

More than 50 police officers were drafted into the inquiry and detectives have made several appeals for help from the community.

Two other men were arrested in connection with the murder. They were later bailed pending further inquiries.

Mr Greaves' widow Maureen attended a service after her husband's death, where she said she had wept over the "evil that has been done". She told the congregation of St Saviour's she had felt their love and support since her husband died.