Life for Norton Fitzwarren murderer
The man who murdered Jennifer and Stephen Chapple has today (21 June) been jailed for a minimum of 38 years. Last week Collin Reeves, 35, was found guilty of murdering his next-door neighbours in Norton Fitzwarren in November last year following a trial at Bristol Crown Court. Today, at the same court, he was handed two life sentences.
Jennifer, 33, and Stephen, 36, were stabbed multiple times by Reeves with a ceremonial military dagger. Their children were asleep upstairs at the time.
The attack came moments after Reeves’ wife told him she wanted a trial separation and followed a dispute with his neighbours over parking spaces outside their properties.
Mr Justice Garnham said the brutal attacks were “unprovoked and unjustified.” As a result of his “murderous behaviour” two children had been left orphaned, causing them “lifelong harm”.