Pictures of Stephen Chapple, 34, Jenny, 33 who were killed in the presence of their children surface on the internet
The truth about the death of IT teacher, 34, and his garden centre worker wife, 33, who were killed at home ‘in front of their children’ amid claims they were embroiled in a long-running dispute with neighbours over parking has started unfolding.
According to Dailymail the pair – who were named locally – were found dead with serious injuries on their bodies in Taunton, Somerset
Police said two children were in the house at the time, with neighbours describing them as boys aged four and seven
Somerset Police said the incident would be referred to watchdog due to ‘prior police contact with those involved’
Stephen Chapple, 34, and wife Jenny, 33, were found at the property on a new-build estate in the sleepy Somerset village of Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, on Sunday night.
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.
One of their neighbours and his father have been arrested on suspicion of murder, it is understood.
A woman living nearby said: ‘We didn’t see much of (the suspect) really, but there had been rows in the past about parking.’
A message was placed on tributes outside Dragon Rise. Police are continuing to investigate the lead-up to the Chapples’ deaths
Neighbours living on the newly build estate around Dragon Rise described the neighbourhood as quiet, and one neighbour described the victims as ‘very friendly’.
‘I knew them by sight but I didn’t know their names, my dog used to really like the lady.’
Another neighbour said he had not realised anything was wrong even when the air ambulance arrived and had believed it had just been from the nearby military base.
‘We slept through it all – we only saw all of the police and the tape this morning,’ he said.
Others said they heard screams and later the police and emergency services arrived.
A police cordon is still in place at two properties on the street while officers carry out a forensic examination of the scene.
Due to prior police contact with those involved, a voluntary referral will be made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
A formal identification process and post-mortem examinations to determine the causes of death will take place in due course.
Detective Inspector Neil Meade, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: ‘The thoughts of everyone in the force this morning are with the families of the two people who sadly died last Sunday 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.’
He added: ‘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.
