'We forgive dad's killers'

13 April 2012

Two sons said today they forgive the callous car thieves who killed their father by mowing him down on his garage forecourt.

Henry Raybould was found lying on the ground by his granddaughter after the horrific murder in Dudley, West Midlands, yesterday afternoon.

His son Paul, who also tried to stop the thieves stealing the vehicle that ran over his father, paid an emotional tribute today to the 75-year-old grandfather and asked that the killers be forgiven.

Detectives launched a murder hunt after the tragedy, which happened at about 2.15pm yesterday at the Louise Street Garage in Gornalwood, which had been owned by the family for generations.

The four thieves drove up on to the forecourt in a stolen Vauxhall Cavalier and two jumped out and ran over to a Volkswagen Bora on which Mr Raybould had just finished working.

The keys were still in the ignition and as they started the car the father and son ran over to stop them.

They reversed into Mr Raybould, throwing him to the ground and causing serious head injuries. He was taken to hospital where he died.

Son Paul grabbed on to the car window and was dragged along by the youths but was unable to stop them.

Paul Raybould told the news conference today his father was a "gentleman" who was well respected by everyone in the community.

He said: "Our father, Henry Raybould, was a gentleman. He was a very kind man.
He was considerate. He was a lovely man and he was a hard-working man.

"Our father Henry would always help anyone who was in trouble and he would always have time to talk to you. His Christian faith was very important to him and this had a great affect on the way in which he lived his life.

"He was outgoing and he liked to go walking. He was a well respected man in the community, in the village and around where he lived."

Mr Raybould had nursed his wife, Ethel, through a long illness before she died a few years ago.

Paul continued: "He was golden to our mum Ethel during her long illness and he would work really hard looking after her and seeing to her every need."

Paul did not talk about his heroic attempts to stop the car with his father but said he wanted the offenders to be forgiven.

He said: "The Christian faith is very important to myself also and my brother and we would like to extend a hand of forgiveness to the people who did this act.

"We would like to see them brought to justice through the correct legal ways of this country. In the Christian faith, Jesus died on the cross for our sins because he loved us so much.

"Jesus said to us that we must forgive those who harmed us. It is very difficult but Jesus committed us to do that and with all my heart I believe that is the way Jesus wanted me to go and I will go that way."

Paul thanked the police and the community for their support following the tragedy.

Mr Raybould, who regularly attended the local Methodist chapel, was also fondly remembered by friends and neighbours in the community.

Councillor David Stanley said: "It is really devastating, especially when it happens to someone you know. I've known him for 40 years and you never think that is going to happen to anyone that you have known for such a long time, to a man that spent all his life working for the community.

"He was a very good Samaritan and he was one of nature's gentlemen. He was very sincere and very genuine."

Detectives appealed for the four car thieves to come forward. The two stolen cars were found abandoned yesterday afternoon - one in an area renowned for dumping cars.

It is believed three men and one woman, all aged in their late teens or early twenties, were involved in the car-jacking.

Today the family-run garage remained closed and people were laying floral tributes in memory of the elderly widower.

One message read: "A man who was so special. Never hurt anyone. God bless you."
On another bouquet an unnamed friend had written: "A gentle man so tragically taken. Why?"

Police appealed any witnesses to contact them on 0845 113 5000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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