10-year anniversary of Christmas Eve murder which shocked Sheffield approaches

Alan Greaves, a 68-year-old married father-of-four, was on his way to St Saviour’s Church in High Green to play the organ for the Midnight Mass service, as he had done for the previous 40 years, when he was targeted.

Killer Jonathan Bowling was said to have chosen him at random “as a victim” and beat him about the head causing injuries “consistent with a road accident”. Robert Smith QC, who prosecuted the case at Sheffield Crown Court, said that the murder of Mr Greaves was “a crime without motive”. “He was killed for no reason other than he was identified as a suitable victim,” he said.

MORE: Sheffield's 'overwhelming outpouring of love' for family of murdered Alan Greaves

Bowling, then aged 22 and of Carwood Way, Pitsmoor, admitted attacking Alan with a pickaxe handle and was jailed for life. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars. The killer’s friend, Ashley Foster, also aged 22, of Wesley Road, High Green, who was with him at the time of the attack, was found guilty of manslaughter after a trial and sentenced to nine years. They were seen running away laughing as Mr Greaves lay slumped on the ground after the attack.

Jailing the pair, Judge Mr Justice Nigel Teare described the attack as “gratuitous, reprehensible and horrific”.

Mr Greaves’ wife, Maureen, a devout Christian, has spoken previously of how she had forgiven the pair. She said she had forgiven them because she wanted to place them in the hands of God, for Him to judge them and guide them. She said she did not look at them with hatred, and that had meant she had been able to get on with her life in the wake of the murder. She said both she and Alan had always been strong advocates of forgiveness.

Bowling wrote a letter to Mrs Greaves, which was handed to her on the day he was sentenced and was said to have spoken of his remorse for his actions.

He later appealed the length of his sentence but lost the case.