A man who fatally stabbed his neighbours in Norton Fitzwarren has been found guilty of murder
The dagger used by Collin Reeves in the attack has never been found.
Last updated 17th Jun 2022
A Somerset man, who admitted killing two of his neighbours after a row over parking, has been found guilty of murder.
Collin Reeves, who is 35 and from Dragon Rise in Norton Fitzwarren, attacked Stephen and Jennifer Chapple in their own home on November 21, last year.
The couple's two children were in bed upstairs at the time.
Mr Reeves, a former soldier in the British Army, had claimed the killings were manslaughter by diminished responsibility, arguing he was suffering with serious mental health problems at the time.
The Afghanistan veteran, who served with the Royal Engineers and completed the gruelling commando training, used the ceremonial dagger he had been given when he left the Army.
The jury has heard that he had been having trouble in his own marriage, and around 40 minutes before the attack his wife, Kayley, had asked for a trial separation.
However, throughout the course of the trial at Bristol Crown Court, two forensic psychiatrists gave evidence that whilst Mr Reeves was suffering with depression, his mental issues were not severe enough to mean he was not aware of what he was doing.
On Friday, a jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty of two counts of murder after five hours and 21 minutes of deliberations.
Reeves did not react as the verdicts were read out but his wife Kayley wept and was able to hold her husband's hand in the gaps in the glass of the dock for a few seconds before he was led to the cells.
The Chapples' family, who were seated in the public gallery, held hands as the verdicts were returned and many of them were in tears.
Mr Justice Garnham adjourned Reeves' sentencing hearing until Tuesday and thanked the jury for their work on the case.
In a statement, the Chapples' loved ones said: "No verdict will bring back our beautiful Jennifer and Stephen.
"If anything, these past 10 days have prolonged us finding out how Jennifer and Stephen spent their final moments."
They added: "We will now focus on Jennifer and Stephen's beautiful boys, helping them to live the life that Jennifer and Stephen would have wished for them."