Parents ‘killed after a parking row’ while children were in house
A HUSBAND and wife were killed after a long-running dispute with neighbours while their children were in the house, it was claimed last night.
The couple, named locally as Stephen and Jenny Chapple, were found at their property in the Somerset village of Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, on Sunday night.
Mr and Mrs Chapple, both in their 30s, were found with serious injuries and later died at the scene. Police confirmed two children were in the house at the time. with neighbours saying they were boys aged four and seven.
Two men, aged 34 and 67, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. They were still in custody last night. Avon and Somerset Police said the incident would be referred to the policing watchdog due to ‘prior police contact with those involved’.
Locals claimed there had been disputes about parking in the past.
A police cordon remained in place last night outside Mr and Mrs Chapple’s home and another property in the street. Residents living on the newbuild Dragon Rise estate described the neighbourhood as quiet, with one describing the victims as ‘very friendly’. Another said: ‘I knew them by sight but I didn’t know their names. My dog used to really like the lady.’
Detective inspector Neil Meade said: ‘The thoughts of everyone in the force this morning are with the families of the two people who sadly died last night.
‘Two young children were inside the property at the time of the incident and while thankfully they weren’t hurt, they are understandably distressed at what has happened. They are being looked after and specially trained officers have been deployed to support the victim’s families in what is undoubtedly the most difficult of times.
‘We will carry out a full and thorough investigation and we will do all we can to achieve justice for the victim’s families.
‘While this appears to be an isolated incident, there will be increased police activity in the area to provide the community with reassurance.
‘Incidents like this are very rare but when they do happen, we know they cause significant concern so we’d urge anyone with worries or questions to speak to an officer or contact their local neighbourhood policing team.’
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: ‘A formal identification process and post-mortem examinations to determine the causes of death will take place in due course.
‘Due to prior police contact with those involved, a voluntary referral will be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
‘It would be inappropriate to go into further detail until the referral has been considered.’
‘Prior police contact with those involved’