Man who murdered his neighbours in Somerset sentenced to life with a minimum term of 38 years

A Somerset man, who admitted killing two of his neighbours after a row over parking, was found guilty of murder on Friday.

Today he's been sentenced to life behind bars with a minimum term of 38 years.

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.

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