Murdered dad-of-four was killed at church

Sep 11 2011 by Lisa Hutchinson, Sunday Sun

MURDER victim Les Liddle was waiting for the church doors to open when his life was taken away from him.

Five months ago he had discovered God and was a regular at Bensham Gospel Hall in Gateshead.

But as he waited in the nearby park area for the prayer reading and bible study to start, a thug pounced and left him with serious head injuries.

Les staggered to the church for help and was taken to hospital. And for two days the 41-year-old lay in the high dependency unit fighting for survival.

But, hooked up to a tangle of wires and machines, the father-of-four died on Friday night.

Now police have launched a murder investigation to catch the killer who carried out the violent attack.

Last night his family issued a photograph of granddad Les to the Sunday Sun to help catch the culprit. They say it is a tough time for them but hope witnesses will step forward so police can put his murderer behind bars.

Les’s relatives comforted each other at the family home in Bensham. One said: “It is devastating, his dad just can’t speak right now.”

Also appealing to witnesses to come forward is Elder Jim McMaster, of the Bensham Gospel Hall, Bensham Bank.

He helped Les after he’d been savagely attacked and comforted him before going to hospital.

“I have known Les for eight or nine years but it was over the past five months or so that he had become a regular at the church. He was coming every week and was starting to change his life around,” said Mr McMaster.

“On Wednesday he was waiting for us to come in. He was in the park area near us when the attack took place. He came into the church and my wife was there at first and then I came in. He was obviously badly injured. We took immediate action to help him.