Ex-soldier who murdered a couple in a row across a parking lot while their children slept in jail

Collin Reeves has been sentenced to at least 38 years in prison for the murders of his neighbors Stephen and Jennifer Chapple, who were killed in their own home for parking

An ex-soldier who killed a couple while their children slept in a row above the parking lot has been jailed for life.

Afghanistan veteran Collin Reeves was on trial for the murder of his neighbors Stephen and Jennifer Chapple at their home in Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset.

Today he was sent to prison for at least 38 years for the heinous crimes.

Reeves had rowed with the couple through designated parking lots in the newly built housing development since last May.

The 35-year-old former royal engineer used the ceremonial dagger given to him when he left the army to kill the couple.

Reeves himself then called the police just minutes after the murders to confess what he had done.

However, he later denied the murder, claiming he was only guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

Two forensic psychiatrists determined that he did not suffer from psychosis or acute post-traumatic stress disorder, but only diagnosed mild to moderate depression.

A jury at Bristol Crown Court learned that Reeves also had problems in his own marriage.

And less than an hour before he stabbed the Chapples, his wife had asked for a trial separation.

Reeves was unanimously found guilty of murder last Friday after a jury deliberated for five hours and 21 minutes.

On the night of the murders, Reeves was caught by security camera climbing over the fence separating his yard from the victims’ yard and entering through the back door.

A few seconds later, Mrs. Chapple is heard screaming in terror as Reeves yells “die, you f*** die”.

Ms Chapple, 33, did not even get a chance to get up from the sofa to defend herself, while Mr Chapple, 36, was found near the back door.

The court heard the Chapple and Reeves couple previously had a good relationship – but it deteriorated when Ms Chapple learned to drive and bought a second car.

The lines around the parking lot escalated to the point that both Reeve’s wife, Kayley, and Mrs. Chapple had told their friends that they were afraid of running into each other on the way to school.

Ten days before the murders, Reeves was caught by a doorbell camera approaching Mrs. Chapple outside her home, having previously exchanged views with Mrs. Reeves.

He accused Mrs. Chapple of “knocking on you naughty little bitch.”

The victim replies, “She started this, just fuck off,” to which he replies, “What is that, you fucking cunt, you fat bitch, you shit? … f**c***”.

After the murders, Reeves was recorded in the background of the 999 call telling someone believed to be his mother, Lynn, “I couldn’t torment her (or her) Kayley anymore.”

Reeves said he has little memory of the incident but recalled sitting on the stairs in tears after speaking to his wife.

He claimed he could not remember taking his dagger out of the picture frame in which it was usually displayed.

The defendant, who previously spoke of his fear of security cameras and surveillance, said the next thing he remembered was a bright light coming on and trying to get to his front.

“I felt like I was seen or compromised, white light was a trigger when I was a soldier, if a light comes on or someone sets off a flare, if that white light comes on, something’s going to happen,” Reeves said.

When asked what else he remembers, the defendant said, “I had a feeling it was me or it was them.”