Soldier faces life for killing neighbours in car parking row

AN Afghanistan veteran is facing life in prison for murdering his married neighbours with a ceremonial dagger after rows over parking.

Ex-commando Collin Reeves, 35, was caught on CCTV scaling a garden fence with the weapon he was presented with upon leaving the Army. He then walked through Jennifer and Stephen Chapple’s back door and knifed them in the living room as their two young sons slept upstairs.

Bristol Crown Court heard Reeves and wife Kayley got on well with Mrs Chapple, 33, and her husband, 36, in Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, until Mrs Chapple learned to drive. A second car ‘obstructed’ the Reeves’ parking space, triggering a dispute that ended in November’s attack.

Reeves was convicted of two counts of murder yesterday. He had accepted manslaughter after admitting to stabbing them six times each, but denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He will be sentenced on Tuesday.