Collin Reeves is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Jennifer and Stephen Chapple. (Photos courtesy of Rex/PA/SWNS)
Two psychologists claim that an ex-Army commando who stabbed his married neighbors to death while their children slept upstairs was not mentally ill at the time.
Collin Reeves, 35, is charged with two counts of murder at Bristol Crown Court for killing Jennifer and Stephen Chapple in Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, on November 21.
In May 2021, Reeves and his family had a parking dispute with the Chapples, who lived next door in Dragon Rise, a new-build property.
There had been a number of heated arguments between them, including one in which Reeves referred to Mrs Chapple as a “f****** c***” and “fat bitch.”
Mr. and Mrs. Chapple were stabbed by Reeves, but he denies murder and has pled guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The Afghan veteran, who served with the Royal Engineers and finished the arduous commando training, wielded the ceremonial dagger he was handed when he left the Army.
The jury was told that he was having marital problems and that his wife, Kayley, had requested a trial separation roughly 40 minutes before the incident.
Following the killings, Reeves was overheard on the 999 call telling someone, possibly his mother Lynn, that ‘I couldn’t let her (or them) harass Kayley any longer.’
Reeves is a former royal commando engineer.
Dr. Lucy Bacon, a forensic psychiatrist who analyzed Reeves on behalf of the defense team, determined that he was suffering from moderate depression at the time.
She stated that Reeves did not exhibit symptoms of acute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The defendant reported being anxious in crowds but was not ‘hyper vigilant’ – a symptom of PTSD often seen in soldiers where they feel a constant sense of threat.
Reeves told her life ‘felt dark all the time’, the witness said.
Reeves being checked into custody following his arrest (Picture: Avon & Somerset Police/SWNS)
Dr Bacon said: ‘For me that’s quite an evocative description of low mood, there’s no brightness, no enjoyment or happiness, things are pretty miserable.’
She diagnosed his depression as moderate, because he was still able to function in some aspects of his life, such as going to work or going for a run, and worried about providing for his family.
Dr Bacon said: ‘I would definitely say depression is a relevant factor in Mr Reeves’ actions; I wouldn’t say depression caused him to do what he did, but I think, if you’re looking at the totality of it, having depression played a part in it.’
She added: ‘From my point of view I don’t think it met the criteria of diminished responsibility, but that’s my point of view, and that’s a decision for the jury.’
Court artist sketch of Reeves in the dock at Bristol Crown Court (Picture: PA)
While at the police station, Reeves gave his name as ‘Lance Corporal Collin Reeves’ and gave his service number and seemed confused as to why he was there.
Dr Bacon said it appeared that the defendant had ‘regressed’ to his training.
‘He’s spent many years as a soldier and he’s gone back into that mode of answering questions with his service number, that sort of thing,’ she said.
‘I think that was caused by the shock of having killed the Chapples.’
Dr Bacon added: ‘It’s possible that he had already regressed somewhat and had gone into Army mode during the killings.’
She said that, during her interview with Reeves, he had said ‘he didn’t feel his depth of feeling about the neighbours explained the fact he had killed them’.
Reeves’ wife Kayley arrives at Bristol Crown Court (Picture: Tom Wren SWNS)
Dr John Sandford, a forensic psychiatrist for the prosecution, said Reeves’ loss of memory of the killings was consistent with ‘dissociative amnesia’ and was not a contributing factor to the incident.
He said it is common in cases of domestic violence homicide, where the perpetrator can call the police immediately afterwards but soon lose all memory of the incident.
‘This is nothing to do with depression – it’s a reaction to a traumatic act, something that is usually a reaction to something you’ve done rather than something done to you,’ Dr Sandford said.
The witness diagnosed Reeves with mild depression, adding that it was a normal response for someone who was unhappy in his job and unhappy in his marriage.
Dr Sandford said Reeves had described a pattern of ‘subtle intimidation and social cruelty’ by Mrs Chapple towards his wife.
He said that, in his opinion, ‘the main factor in committing this offence is about the dispute between the two families’.
The trial, which is due to conclude by the end of the week, continues.