Inquiry urged after vicar killing

Satanist guilty of killing 'No logic behind death'

The family of a vicar stabbed to death outside his vicarage want an inquiry into why no one realised his killer was so dangerous.

Paranoid schizophrenic Geraint Evans, 24, from Trecynon, was detained indefinitely after admitting stabbing Father Paul Bennett, 59.

Father Bennett's relatives said legal and mental health systems should have been aware of Evans's issues.

They feel justice has not been done and said: "Our family need answers."

In a statement, the Bennett family, including the vicar's wife Georgina who witnessed the attack, said: "We will never be able to come to terms with the manner of Paul's death."

His death was "a loss to everyone who knew him and those who will never get the chance," they said.

Father Paul Bennett was 'a man of great faith and great devotion'

On Tuesday, Evans, who was obsessed with the devil and a heavy drug user, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

His plea was accepted after reports by three doctors confirmed he was mentally ill.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how on 14 March he had called at the vicarage in the grounds of St Fagan's Church in Trecynon near Aberdare, which was overlooked by Evans's home.

He stabbed Father Bennett 22 times in what the victim's family called a "premeditated plan" and a "savage and sadistic attack on an innocent man".

The family said: "We feel that the legal system failed Paul and ourselves. We will never consider this an act of manslaughter.

"The sentencing here does not reflect the crime but an antiquated legal system skewed in favour of the perpetrator.

"It is about time this system was reviewed."

Someone must have seen how disturbed this man was and could have reacted to prevent this conclusion... where were the mental health service and other agencies? Father Paul Bennett's family

During the court hearing, the judge heard how Evans had never come to the attention of the mental health services system despite a series of events which should have brought him into contact with health care professionals.

David Aubrey QC, defending Evans, told the court that his client had been in care as a child and had a string of minor convictions, including one for arson, which the judge said should have triggered a psychiatric report but never happened.

The court also heard how months before Evans killed Father Bennett, he had cut his own throat in a suicide attempt because he was worried about the delusions he was suffering and feared he might kill someone.

This was carefully planned out before hand. Father Paul was targeted and selected. It was absolutely horrendous Father Robert Davies

On that occasion he was taken to hospital but discharged himself before he was seen by a psychiatrist.

Father Bennett's family said: "How can a crime like this take place in the 21st Century?

"We cannot believe or accept there were no warning signs.

"Someone must have seen how disturbed this man was and could have reacted to prevent this conclusion.

"Where were the mental health service and other agencies?

"We need to know where the failings have been. We ask that an inquiry be called," they added.

Their sense of injustice was also felt by Father Robert Davies, a vicar in Aberdare, who was a friend of Father Bennett.

"I feel as if this man [Evans] has got away with murder," he said.

"The family are right to feel aggrieved. This was carefully planned out before hand. Father Paul was targeted and selected. It was absolutely horrendous."