Ashley Foster, 22, found guilty of killing church organist who was beaten to death on his way to midnight mass Ashley Foster convicted of manslaughter after attack on Alan Greaves in High Green area of Sheffield last year The 68-year-old grandfather was beaten to death with a pick-axe handle and another weapon which has never been found Joanathan Bowling, 22, had already pleaded guilty to murder Confusion in Sheffield Crown Court as clerk only asks jury foreman for murder verdict and then tells him to sit down Foster's family had celebrated when response was 'not guilty' But foreman then shouted through screams 'but guilty of manslaughter' Bowling and Foster to be sentenced tomorrow Words of Mr Greaves' widow Maureen outside court: 'Alan would not want us to hold onto feelings of hate and unforgiveness' 'I hope that they will be inspired to true repentance' she added The family of a 22-year-old man accused of murdering a church organist as he walked to midnight mast celebrated wildly believing he had been found not guilty today - only to realise he had been convicted of manslaughter instead. Ashley Foster had denied killing 68-year-old grandfather Alan Greaves who was attacked near his home in the High Green area of Sheffield, despite the fact that his friend and accomplice Jonathan Bowling had confessed to the crime. And Foster's relatives whooped with delight when the jury foreman returned a 'not guilty' verdict for murder. But as most viewers in the public gallery at Sheffield Crown Court looked on in disbelief, the foreman shouted over their noise 'but guilty to manslaughter'. At this point Foster's girlfriend Natalie Evers burst into tears and ran from the court screaming. Both men will be sentenced tomorrow. Verdict: Ashley Foster, left, has been convicted of the manslaughter of Alan Greaves, right, who was attacked as he walked to church for midnight mass on Christmas Eve Guilty: Jonathan Bowling, 22, had already admitted the murder of Alan Greaves The jury of six men and six women returned its verdicts after 13 hours of deliberations. Mr Greaves' widow Maureen, 63, has sat through every day of the trial with many members of her family. During the three-and-a-half-week trial, prosecutors described how father-of-four Mr Greaves was severely beaten with a pick-axe handle and another weapon that has never been found, possibly a hammer. He suffered horrendous head injuries and died in hospital three days later with his family around him. Speaking after the verdict, Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick, who led the investigation for South Yorkshire Police, said Mr Greaves only came into Bowling and Foster's path because he was cold and went back to his house for his hat, delaying his walk to church by a few minutes. The detective said that if he had not of done that, he would have been three or four minutes further ahead on his walk and would have avoided his killers. The court heard how Foster, of High Green, and Bowling, of, Pitsmoor, Sheffield had left a family gathering earlier that evening. According to prosecutors they were stalking the streets of High Green looking for someone to attack. If they had not killed the pensioner it would have been someone else, the jury was told. Father-of-two Foster gave evidence during the trial and claimed he shouted to try to stop Bowling attacking Mr Greaves and was a distance away at the time. He claimed he did not tell police what happened because he was terrified of Bowling and his family. The jury heard Foster has never had a proper job, although he did casual work at a local farm. The pair had known each other since their early teens when Bowling's father was in a relationship with Foster's mother. Court drama: There was confusion at Sheffield Crown Court when the clerk only asked the jury foreman for the murder verdict against Foster Vicious: Following Foster's conviction, police have released this picture of the pick-axe handle used in Alan Greaves' murder After the verdict was clarified, Mrs Greaves sobbed in the public gallery and was comforted by members of her family. Speaking outside court, Mrs Greaves said: 'Alan was a man driven by love and compassion and he would not want any of us to hold on to feelings of hate and unforgiveness. 'So, in honour of Alan and in honour of the God we both love, my prayer is that this story doesn't end today. 'My prayer is that Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster will come to understand and experience the love and kindness of the God who made him in his own image and that God's great mercy will inspire them to true repentance.' Mrs Greaves said: 'I believe that justice was done for the actions taken that resulted in the murder of an innocent man. Society needs protecting from people who do such evil acts. I am greatly satisfied and relieved by the result of the court today, however no sentence will bring Alan back. Alan was a wonderful man who is so dearly missed. Our lives will never be the same again. Horrific: Mr Greaves was on his way to St Saviours C of E Church, High Green, when he was attacked Alan Greaves suffered an appalling, extremely violent and totally unprovoked attack as he walked to church. Det Sup Fenwick said after the hearing: 'In a matter of minutes, Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster had left an innocent man for dead.' He said: 'Most of all my thoughts today are reserved for Alan's widow Maureen and her family, who have displayed great strength and dignity in such ghastly circumstances. 'I can only hope that today's verdict will bring some solace to them as they continue to come to terms with losing Alan in such tragic circumstances.' Mr Fenwick said Bowling had a history of violence and criminality following a difficult upbringing in Sheffield. He said Foster had less of a criminal background. Brutal: The scene where Mr Greaves' was attacked in the High Lane area of Sheffield last Christmas Eve Community in shock: Local residents bring flowers and talk to police at the scene where Mr Greaves' was killed Asked what he thought they were doing prowling the streets of High Green that night, the detective said: 'They were out there looking for trouble.' The jury heard evidence that Bowling had left a house in the Sheffield suburb because he was upset about remarks people had made about him making advances on Miss Evers. Foster followed him out the house and CCTV footage showed the two men walking together at various locations in High Green. Mr Greaves was attacked on an unlit section of road by a park. The court heard how his massive head injuries were like those seen in serious car accidents. Doctors said they were unsurvivable. Foster told the jury he saw Bowling hit the pensioner twice, jumping off his feet to deliver big blows with a pickaxe handle. But prosecutors said the attack was more sustained adding that forensic evidence from Mr Greaves's battered hat showed a second weapon had been used. A forensic scientist said this could have been something like a hammer, although no hammer has ever been found. Mr Fenwick paid tribute to Mr Greaves. He said: 'I never knew Alan but I wish that I had met him.' The detective said the most chilling part of the murder was the lack of obvious motive. He said: 'It could have been any one of us'. The jury's guilty verdict was by a majority of 11-1. 'A truly beautiful man who was devoted to loving God': Widow speaks of her grief at losing her soul mate Alan Greaves was a quiet, deeply religious man whose life was a total contrast to his violent and senseless death. Mr Greaves, 68, was devoted to his faith, to his family, to his music and to helping other people. The tributes to him following his death have painted a picture of a humble, caring and gentle man. His widow Maureen described him as a 'truly selfless person'. Memories: Mr Greaves' quiet and religious life was in deep contrast to his violent and senseless death Happier times: Maureen Greaves described her husband as a 'truly beautiful man' His vicar and friend, Canon Simon Bessant, said: 'I can simply find no better way to describe Alan than to say that he was a good man.' And his nephew, Matthew Walsh, said: 'He seems to personify what it meant to be a true Christian and a human being.' Mr Greaves was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, on July 12, 1944 - an only child. He was brought up in a house surrounded by music and this became his life-long passion. Mr Greaves met Maureen in 1969 when they were both training to be residential children's officers for Sheffield City Council. They married at St John's Church, in the Hyde Park area of Sheffield, in 1972. They had been married for 40 years when Mr Greaves was killed. Bereft: Maureen Greaves spoke movingly at the funeral of her husband Alan's funeral about how he would have advised her not to be angry with his killers Their four children - Peter, Martin, Alison and Emma - are all now grown up, and they have two twin grandchildren. Mrs Greaves described how Mr Greaves bought her flowers on the morning he died. She told the hundreds who gathered for his funeral service: 'When I went to thank Alan and give him a kiss, he said to me "I love you so much Maureen, so much and I'm so glad that I married you."' She said she knew from the beginning of their relationship she had found her soul mate. Mrs Greaves, 63, and her husband shared a deep Christian faith. She said: 'The hours that he spent before God shaped his character and made him the truly beautiful man that he was. He was devoted to loving God and loving the people he came into contact with. Mr Greaves was a stalwart of St Saviour's Church, near his home in High Green, Sheffield, although he also helped out at others in the city. He was walking to St Saviour's for the midnight service on Christmas Eve when he was attacked. He was heading there to play the organ, as he had done for 40 years and as he did at countless other services. Mr Greaves played the organ, clarinet, guitar and piano and also loved singing. He even enjoyed karaoke - Status Quo or Elvis being his favourites, his family said. Mr Greaves was a quiet, even shy man. People have said he was the 'foil' to Mrs Greaves's more outgoing personality. But he had a healthy sense of humour, friends talking of his 'legendary' Les Dawson impression. He was a social worker for 35 years. He took early retirement about eight years before he died because he was getting tired and found it increasingly difficult to keep up with paperwork. His wife, also a social worker, said he often went "beyond the call of duty" in looking after his clients. Distraught: Mrs Greaves' said Alan was 'devoted to loving God and loving the people he came into contact with' Following his retirement, Mr Greaves threw himself even further into community work and helping his wife with her activities with the Church Army. He served as a school governor, he played piano for the nearby Angram Bank Primary school, served in the church charity shop, spent hours decorating at the local community project, helped with local choirs and was also a lay preacher. Just weeks before his death, Mr Greaves had helped establish a new food bank project in High Green. Mrs Greaves said her husband was generally a very healthy and active person but he had slowed down a bit in recent years and was concerned that arthritis in his hands would affect his keyboard playing. She spoke movingly at the funeral about how she should react to his killers and described how he had told her in the past not give herself permission to behave badly in situations when she was angry. She said: 'On Christmas Day when I sat beside Alan's bruised and battered body, it was only natural that my thoughts would turn to the men who had so cruelly and brutally attacked him. 'But, even then, I could hear Alan saying to me "Maureen, don't give yourself permission."'