Woman in court over church warden’s murder
A 29-YEAR-OLD woman has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of an elderly church warden and the attempted murder of three other people.
Zara Anne Radcliffe faced Cardiff Magistrates’ Court accused of stabbing to death 88-year-old John Rees who was allegedly attacked in a Co-op store in Pen Y Graig, Rhondda Valley.
Radcliffe, of Wyndham Street, Porth, is also accused of three counts of attempted murder against Andrew Price, Gaynor Saurin and Lisa Way who were hurt in the incident on Tuesday afternoon.
The defendant appeared in the dock accompanied by two security staff and spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth and address during the two-minute hearing.
The incident left one man in a stable condition in hospital and two other people suffered nonlife-threatening injuries. One of those injured was believed to be an NHS worker.
No bail application was made on Radcliffe’s behalf and District Judge David Webster remanded her into custody to appear before a judge on Monday.
“I must send this case to the crown court for trial. The first hearing will be on Monday May 11,” he said. “It will be sent to Merthyr Crown Court but it will likely be heard at Cardiff because of the public health emergency.”
Mr Rees, who lived in the nearby village of Trealaw with his wife Eunice, was a warden at All Saints Church.
In a statement his family said: “John was the very definition of a good man, extremely respected and liked in the community.
“He was proud of his family, proud to be a Welshman and devoted to All Saints Church. We will all miss him terribly.”
Other tributes have also been paid to Mr Rees.
Floral tributes have been left outside the convenience store and at All Saints Church. One said: “Our hearts go out for John and his beloved wife Eunice and family. We are all heartbroken.”
The South Wales force had also referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), but did not say why. But an IOPC spokesman said later an investigation by the IOPC is not required and the matter would be investigated by South Wales Police.