Woman, 29, charged with murdering churchwarden, 88, and wounding three others in Co-op knife rampage
A WOMAN arrested after a churchwarden was knifed to death at a village Co-op was last night charged with murder.
Zara Radcliffe, 29, is accused of killing pensioner John Rees and and the attempted murder of three other people who were stabbed in Tuesday’s bloodbath.
An off-duty NHS nurse shopping between shifts was among those injured in the horrorific attack in Penygraig, South Wales.
Radcliffe, from nearby Porth, will appear before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court today.
John, 88, left his dementia-stricken wife Eunice, 87, in their Honda while he queued up to go into the village store in Pen Y Graig, Rhondda, on Tuesday afternoon.
Passers-by said Eunice looked “upset” and “looking for her husband” after the attack, before she was escorted away by police.
A friend of John added: “It is so tragic. John was so dedicated to Eunice and they were always together.
“She has no idea what has happened. Eunice has dementia and she can’t take it in. She keeps on saying: ‘Where’s John?'”
‘WE ARE ALL HEARTBROKEN’
The dad-of-two, described as a pillar of the community, took his wife to the Co-op in Penygraig from their home a mile away in Tonypandy.
A family statement released yesterday 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.”
Floral tributes have been left outside the convenience store and at All Saints Church where John was a warden.
One said: “Our hearts go out for John and his beloved wife Eunice and family. We are all heartbroken. Such a lovely, lovely gentleman, kind and caring, so so sad. God bless.
“Thanks for being the lovely man who has rang our church bells every Thursday night for the NHS. You will be very sadly missed by everyone.”
Another said: “Heartbreaking losing your life in such a horrific way. Can’t stop thinking of your poor wife x Thoughts are with you and your family.”
Tracey Goodridge, John’s neighbour, said he was a carer for his wife and that he was “a gentleman” who would “help anybody”.
She told ITV Wales: “It’s just so sad and unbelievable. The church bells at the end of the street, he’d be there doing them. And couldn’t wait for the services to start back – he loved his church.”
Another man Andrew Price, 58, has been recovering in hospital after Tuesday’s attack.
His family said he was in a “stable” condition and undergoing treatment for his injuries.
Two others are also being treated in hospital with non life-threatening injuries, including nurse Lisa Way, 53, who was shopping in the store in between shifts.
MOST READ IN NEWS
A neighbour of Lisa, who works at Royal Glamorgan Hospital in South Wales, said: “Lisa just popped down the Co-op and this happens.
“It is just terrible especially when you think what the NHS is going through at the moment. Its devastating.”
The South Wales force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, but did not say why.