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| Jennifer and Stephen Chapple: Man feels 'ashamed' of killing neighbours | Jennifer and Stephen Chapple: Man feels 'ashamed' of killing neighbours |
| (21 days later) | |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Colin Reeves' 999 call: 'I've stabbed my neighbours' | Colin Reeves' 999 call: 'I've stabbed my neighbours' |
| Colin Reeves' 999 call: 'I've stabbed my neighbours' | Colin Reeves' 999 call: 'I've stabbed my neighbours' |
| A former soldier who stabbed his neighbours to death with a ceremonial dagger has told a court he feels "ashamed and disgusted" with himself. | A former soldier who stabbed his neighbours to death with a ceremonial dagger has told a court he feels "ashamed and disgusted" with himself. |
| Collin Reeves, 35, admits the manslaughter of Stephen and Jennifer Chapple but denies their murder. | Collin Reeves, 35, admits the manslaughter of Stephen and Jennifer Chapple but denies their murder. |
| He claims he was suffering an abnormality of mental functioning when he killed the married couple in Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, on 21 November. | He claims he was suffering an abnormality of mental functioning when he killed the married couple in Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, on 21 November. |
| Mr Reeves told the court earlier he did not know why he had killed them. | Mr Reeves told the court earlier he did not know why he had killed them. |
| "I feel ashamed, [and] disgusted with myself after what I've done, taking Stephen and Jennifer's life while their children slept," he said. | "I feel ashamed, [and] disgusted with myself after what I've done, taking Stephen and Jennifer's life while their children slept," he said. |
| "I can't imagine the pain and suffering for their families and friends and their two boys, knowing they can never see their mum and dad again because of me," he added. | "I can't imagine the pain and suffering for their families and friends and their two boys, knowing they can never see their mum and dad again because of me," he added. |
| Giving evidence at Bristol Crown Court on Monday, Mr Reeves claimed to have little memory of the killing, but recalled sitting on the stairs beforehand in tears after a conversation with his wife Kayley. | Giving evidence at Bristol Crown Court on Monday, Mr Reeves claimed to have little memory of the killing, but recalled sitting on the stairs beforehand in tears after a conversation with his wife Kayley. |
| He said he feared "losing everything" when she told him she wanted a temporary separation because of the state of their relationship. | He said he feared "losing everything" when she told him she wanted a temporary separation because of the state of their relationship. |
| Light trigger | Light trigger |
| He claimed to have no memory of taking the ceremonial dagger out of the picture frame it was usually displayed in just minutes after their conversation. | He claimed to have no memory of taking the ceremonial dagger out of the picture frame it was usually displayed in just minutes after their conversation. |
| The former army commando said he then remembered seeing a "white light", which he believed to be the Chapples' security light, that came on when he climbed into their back garden. | The former army commando said he then remembered seeing a "white light", which he believed to be the Chapples' security light, that came on when he climbed into their back garden. |
| He previously told the court of his fear of CCTV cameras and being under surveillance from his Army service. | He previously told the court of his fear of CCTV cameras and being under surveillance from his Army service. |
| He said: "White light was a trigger when I was a soldier. | He said: "White light was a trigger when I was a soldier. |
| "When a light goes on, or somebody sets off a flare, when that white light goes up something is going to happen." | "When a light goes on, or somebody sets off a flare, when that white light goes up something is going to happen." |
| Jennifer and Stephen Chapple died from multiple stab wounds | Jennifer and Stephen Chapple died from multiple stab wounds |
| "I had a feeling like it was me or them (the Chapples)." | "I had a feeling like it was me or them (the Chapples)." |
| "I know it was wrong, I should never have been there," he added. | "I know it was wrong, I should never have been there," he added. |
| The trial previously heard how he entered his neighbours' house from the rear after climbing over the fence separating their properties, before attacking them. | The trial previously heard how he entered his neighbours' house from the rear after climbing over the fence separating their properties, before attacking them. |
| Jennier Chapple, 33, suffered six stab wounds to her upper chest and shoulder, causing fatal injuries to a major blood vessel and her heart. | Jennier Chapple, 33, suffered six stab wounds to her upper chest and shoulder, causing fatal injuries to a major blood vessel and her heart. |
| Fatal injuries | Fatal injuries |
| Her 36-year-old husband Stephen was found close to the rear door and had also suffered six stab wounds, as well as three other minor injuries. | Her 36-year-old husband Stephen was found close to the rear door and had also suffered six stab wounds, as well as three other minor injuries. |
| Earlier on Monday, Mr Reeves, who served in the 59 Commando Squadron of the Royal Engineers, was asked if he had been trained to kill. | Earlier on Monday, Mr Reeves, who served in the 59 Commando Squadron of the Royal Engineers, was asked if he had been trained to kill. |
| He confirmed he had, but said he had not killed anyone during his time in the Army. | He confirmed he had, but said he had not killed anyone during his time in the Army. |
| He said that he "drank heavily and often" after returning from Afghanistan and admitted he had struck his wife during arguments. | He said that he "drank heavily and often" after returning from Afghanistan and admitted he had struck his wife during arguments. |
| "Little minor things result in an argument and yes I hit her," he told the jury. | "Little minor things result in an argument and yes I hit her," he told the jury. |
| Mr Reeves and the Chapples had been involved in a dispute over parking spaces outside their homes, the court heard | Mr Reeves and the Chapples had been involved in a dispute over parking spaces outside their homes, the court heard |
| He also told the court he had experienced domestic violence when growing up. | He also told the court he had experienced domestic violence when growing up. |
| Since leaving the Army, Mr Reeves said he found working as a lorry driver "very lonely" and in November 2021 he thought about taking his own life. | Since leaving the Army, Mr Reeves said he found working as a lorry driver "very lonely" and in November 2021 he thought about taking his own life. |
| He said his relationship with his wife had been "strained" at the time. | He said his relationship with his wife had been "strained" at the time. |
| Mr Reeves had also been involved in a long-running dispute with the Chapples over designated parking on the new-build housing development. | Mr Reeves had also been involved in a long-running dispute with the Chapples over designated parking on the new-build housing development. |
| Ten days before the killings, Mr Reeves allegedly verbally abused Mrs Chapple outside her house following an earlier exchange between the victim and Mr Reeves' wife. | Ten days before the killings, Mr Reeves allegedly verbally abused Mrs Chapple outside her house following an earlier exchange between the victim and Mr Reeves' wife. |
| Psychiatrist Dr Lucy Bacon told the jury Mr Reeves was not suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in the Army. | Psychiatrist Dr Lucy Bacon told the jury Mr Reeves was not suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from his time in the Army. |
| She concluded he had symptoms of moderate depression, but there was nothing to suggest it undermined his ability to form a rational judgment or exercise self-control, and the defence of diminished responsibility did not apply. | She concluded he had symptoms of moderate depression, but there was nothing to suggest it undermined his ability to form a rational judgment or exercise self-control, and the defence of diminished responsibility did not apply. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Norton Fitzwarren | Norton Fitzwarren |