Suffolk Stalker Sentenced to Life for Murdering Woman in Front of Daughters

SUFFOLK STALKER SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR MURDERING WOMAN IN FRONT OF DAUGHTERS

A man identified as John McFarlane, aged 40 and described as a jealous stalker, was today sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey for the killing of Mary Griffiths.

He murdered her with a bolt gun in front of her daughters after breaking into her house wielding an axe.

McFarlane forcibly removed her from her bed, threw her down the stairs amid her children’s screams, and then forced her onto the ground outside the residence.

There, he used the bolt gun to kill her, an act a neighbor compared to "an execution — almost clinical." During the attack, he also struck her children with the weapon.

McFarlane, who had previously undergone psychiatric treatment but was considered not to be dangerous, had accused Ms Griffiths of “ripping out his heart and stamping on it,” and had sent her threatening text messages.

On the night of the murder, he made a false 999 call related to a burglary to distract police while he moved towards her home.

Following the killing, he sent a message claiming he was on a revenge mission to make her pay for “stamping on my heart.” Prosecutor Stephen Harvey QC explained that McFarlane sought a romantic relationship with Ms Griffiths, which she refused, resulting in threats.

She had previously contacted police that evening due to her fears.

Her daughter was also frightened by the situation and worried about her mother’s safety.

McFarlane, who hails from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, pleaded guilty to the murder and was given a sentence of at least 20 years.

The judge cited his guilty plea and mental health condition as factors.

Court proceedings revealed the depth of the family’s grief, with Ms Griffiths working part-time at the Newmarket Leisure Centre and living apart from her partner.