Church secretary and workmen describe how they found former Essex vicar's body (From Essex County Standard)

Church secretary and workmen describe how they found former Essex vicar's body

5:55pm Sunday 14th October 2012 in News

A PARISHIONER and two workmen told a jury of their shock at discovering the body of murdered former Essex vicar Rev John Suddards.

They found Rev Suddards lying on his back in the hallway of his vicarage in south Gloucestershire in February this year.

He had taken up the post in Thornbury eight months earlier.

He was assistant curate at St Andrew’s and Holy Trinity churches, Halstead, from 1989 to 1993 and priest-in-charge at Great and Little Yeldham, and Upper Colne until 2001.

Mr Suddards then moved to Witham where he was team rector and rural dean until last year.

Bristol Crown Court heard Tim Giles, secretary of St Mary's parochial church council, had gone to the vicarage with a spare key to let plumber Richard Gough and builder Karl Hardman into the property.

FULL STORY IN MONDAY'S GAZETTE