Key Evidence:

• All three suspects' fingerprints and DNA were found at the crime scene. Petunia's presence is explained by her daily work as church warden, and Gabby's by the afternoon bell-ringing competition. Harold's presence, however, contradicts his claim of not visiting the church in 10 years.

• Harold's testimony contains a contradiction: he claims to have fallen asleep at home waiting for the vicar to return, yet also claims to have seen who the vicar left the pub with.

• Gabby's wrist injury was severe enough to force her withdrawal from the competition and prevent her from driving. She left at 9:50 p.m. with her sister for a lift home to a different village. With no transportation, she couldn't have returned to commit the murder.

• Timeline for Petunia provides an alibi: she was last seen with the vicar at 9:45 p.m., spotted leaving the church by Gabby at 9:50 p.m., and arrived home by 9:55 p.m., where she was with her husband. The murder occurred between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.#

Confession:

While I was waiting for the vicar to come home, I saw Petunia and the vicar leaving the pub and going into the church. Petunia looked upset. Minutes later, she left on her own, now red-faced and crying. I mean, for goodness' sake, how much more of the vicar's torment could this village take!

I was already fuming about him stealing my cat and was now full of Dutch courage from the whiskey, so I decided it was time to confront him. When I got to the church, he said, "I'm sorry and understand why you're upset, but I'm not forcing the cat to stay in the church; it's making its own choice." He then had the nerve to say, "Maybe you should try a different pet, one that's easier to look after, like a goldfish."

Well, that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. By this point, the vicar was standing on a chair, messing around with the bell ropes. No more inspiration was needed.