A brave nurse has sent a heartbreaking apology to a church warden who was stabbed to death on a supermarket shopping trip saying: ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.’
NHS worker Lisa Way, 53, was also injured in the attack inside a village Co-op where grandfather John Rees, 88, was killed as his wife Eunice waited in the car outside.
A floral tribute from Lisa was amongst dozens of flowers laid outside the church where John was a devoted member.
Nurse Lisa Way, 53, was stabbed as she was shopping in the village after completing her shift at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in nearby Llantrisant
John Rees, 88, left his wife Eunice, 87, (both pictured) in their Honda car while he queued up at a convenience store in Pen-y-Graig, south Wales on May 5 for their weekly shop.
Zara Radcliffe, 29, from Penygraig, South Wales who has been charged with the murder of John Rees, 88 at the Co-op store in the village of Penygraig
A card with the flowers said: ‘Dearest John, I am so sorry I couldn’t save you. I hope you are at peace now. Lisa Way xxx’
Grandmother Lisa works at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, South Wales, and is married to husband Carl, 53.
She was treated at her own hospital after suffering non life-threatening injuries.
John’s family paid tribute to him, saying he ‘would do anything for anyone’ – and was going to help the other victims of the stabbing attack when he died.
Zara Radcliffe, 29, has been charged with murdering 88-year-old church warden John Rees who was stabbed to death in a Co-op supermarket in the Pen y graig area of Tonypandy, south Wales. Victims Gaynor Saurin (left) and Andrew Price (right) pictured
People were socially-distancing in the queue outside when the incident happened today
Nephew Michael Smith paid tribute to his uncle after a 29-year-old woman appeared in Cardiff Crown Court charged with his murder.
Zara Radcliffe, 29, is accused of his murder and the attempted murder of three other shoppers – Andrew Price, Gaynor Saurin and Lisa.
Mr Smith said he reacted with ‘absolute disbelief’ when he heard how his uncle was killed on the shopping trip.
He said: ‘It’s incredibly upsetting. You feel sorry for the person impacted, but you have no comprehension about the knock on for the family.’
Mr Rees left his wife Eunice in their car outside the Co-op store in Penygraig, Rhondda, while he did their shop. Eunice, 87, suffers from dementia and she was still there 15 minutes later when police found her.
One note, pictured, read: ‘RIP. Heartbreaking losing your life in such a horrific way. Can’t stop thinking of your poor wife. Thoughts are with you and your family.’
Eunice Reese, 87, pictured left, was waiting in the car as husband John was stabbed to death, while Andrew Price, pictured right. was rushed to hospital after suffering injuries
Flowers were left at the scene today, pictured, as tributes continued to flood in for Mr Rees
Nephew Mr Smith said: ‘My aunt is extremely frail. Eunice was totally dependent on him.
‘Even though John was 88 he was physically fit and would often take her out to Pontypridd and they would sit in the Prince’s Café.
‘He was so very well thought of. Everyone knows John. If you can model yourself on him you’d do quite well.
‘If you try and think what would he do in a situation and do it, you’ll be on the right track.’
Radcliffe was charged with the murder of Mr Rees. She is also accused of attempted murder of nurse Lisa Way, 53, shopper Andrew Price, 58, and fellow nurse Gaynor Saurin, 65, at the Co-operative store.
Radcliffe, of Tonypandy, Rhondda, had her first appearance in Cardiff Crown Court on Monday by video link.
The hearing at Cardiff Crown Court was told the preliminary cause of death for Mr Rees is severe blunt force trauma.
Michael Jones QC, for the prosecution, said a trial date had been set for October 19 at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.
88-year-old church warden John Rees (right) was stabbed to death on shopping trip to a supermarket. His family say grandfather John Rees ‘would do anything for anyone’ – and was going to help the other victims of the stabbing attack when he died
Radcliffe, who appeared via video link from HM Eastwood Park Prison in Gloucestershire, was represented by Alexander Greenwood.
Judge Paul Thomas QC said she will remain in custody until then.
Radcliffe is mother to a young son and had recently been released from treatment at a psychiatric unit.
A romantic relationship with a man had ended last weekend – and family say Radcliffe had made a complaint to police about it.
She complained that police ‘weren’t taking her seriously’ about an alleged assault against her.
Church warden Mr Rees was described as ‘the very definition of a good man, extremely respected and liked in the community’ by his family.
His wife Eunice, 87, was left in their car for 15 minutes until police found her. She has dementia and keeps asking: ‘Where’s John?’