Man Murders Neighbors With Retirement Gift
Three appeal judges ruled an ex-soldier's life sentence should be reduced by three years in a November 2021 double murder. Initially, Collin Reeves was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 38 years, for the murder of his neighbors. However, in March 2023, the appeal judges decided this sentence was too harsh and reduced the minimum time to 35 years.
The Crime
Reeves had been arguing with his neighbors, Stephen and Jennifer Chapple, over parking leading up to the murders. A former Royal Engineer, Reeves climbed over his back garden fence, entered the Chapples' home, and stabbed the couple six times each in their living room while their children slept upstairs. The murder weapon was a ceremonial dagger Reeves received when he left the armed forces. The attack happened so suddenly that Jennifer did not have time to get up from her seat in the family's living area. Shortly after the murders, Reeves called police and confessed to the killings.
The Trial
Despite having confessed to the murders, Reeves later claimed he was guilty of manslaughter, rather than murder, due to diminished responsibility. He claimed that his mental state at the time of the killings affected his actions. However, the jury at his eight-day trial in Bristol Crown Court did not agree with his defense. After carefully considering the evidence, they found him guilty of murder on June 17, 2022. He was originally sentenced to 38 years in prison. At Reeves' sentencing, trial judge Mr. Justice Garnham spoke about the especially heinous nature of Reeves' crime.
"You left (Mr. and Mrs. Chapple) on the floor bleeding to death, and all of the time their two children were asleep upstairs," the judge said, as reported by the BBC. "Your murderous behavior left them orphans. They were put to bed that night by their parents and they would never see them again. The harm you did those two innocent children is incalculable."
The Appeal
The appeal judges decided that Reeves' original sentence was too harsh and reduced the minimum time he would serve to 35 years. The ruling was made in the Court of Appeal in London by Lord Justice Holroyde, Mr. Justice Kerr, and Judge Timothy Spencer. They decided that the trial judge, Mr. Justice Garnham, had not taken enough into account when making his original decision. The appeal judges said the judge should have considered factors like Reeves' remorse, his struggles with depression, his military background, and the fact that he had admitted to the killings. Reeves' lawyer, Jo Martin KC, told the appeal judges that Reeves had serious mental health issues. She explained that the attack was a result of "mania" and described it as "10 minutes of extraordinary behavior," according to the BBC.
The Aftermath
After details of the murder came to light, Senior Somerset coroner Samantha Marsh wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, urging the army to stop giving out weapons as retirement gifts. In her letter, Marsh highlighted the dangers of allowing former military members to keep weapons such as the ceremonial dagger Reeves used to commit the murders. She made this request in a special report focused on preventing future deaths. The coroner's letter was a step toward ensuring that similar incidents would not happen again.
Reeves' case highlights how the justice system tries to balance the seriousness of a crime with the offender's personal circumstances. The court took into account factors like his remorse, struggles with depression, military service, and his confession. While the Chapple family's loss is still heartbreaking, the decision shows how the court can reevaluate the ruling after taking certain aspects into account.
References: Double Murderer Collin Reeves Has Jail Term Reduced by Appeal Court Judges | Collin Reeves: Ex-Soldier Who Killed Neighbours Has Jail Term Cut | Ex-Soldier Collin Reeves Jailed for Life for Murdering Neighbours
