THREE Okehampton people have been rewarded for their bravery in tackling a man who was violently attacking his wife.
The attack happened on the night of Thursday, August 12, 1999, and was seen by Mervyn Sanders, Rebecca Simmons, and Heather Edwards.
They all spotted a man attacking a woman who was lying on the pavement.
Mr Sanders pulled the man off the woman, and was then threatened himself. Mrs Edwards was driving past. She stopped her car and tried to stop the attack.
Miss Simmons came to her aid, and was able to describe the attack in detail to investigating officers.
The man, Adrian Williams, was later convicted of the murder of his wife Helen. They had been married for only three weeks.
The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, Sir John Evans, presented the three with Certificates of Good Citizenship for their public-spirited actions at a recent ceremony.
Mr and Mrs Garrett, the parents of the murder victim, were at the ceremony.