A grim murder trial has begun at Taunton Crown Court, revealing harrowing details of a retired man allegedly hacked to death in his own garden shed.
Daniel Frost, 30, and Charlie Sterry, 27, stand accused of murdering 65-year-old Stephen Chapple in a violent attack at his home in the village of North Petherton, Somerset. The prosecution alleges the pair were found naked and covered in blood at the grisly scene.
A Blood-Soaked Discovery
The court heard that police were called to Mr. Chapple's bungalow on the evening of September 5th last year after reports of a disturbance. What they discovered was described as a scene of utter carnage.
Prosecutor William Hunter stated that Mr. Chapple's body was found in a small shed at the bottom of his garden. The shed's interior was reportedly drenched in blood, and a post-mortem examination concluded the grandfather had suffered multiple chop wounds to his neck and head, inflicted by a sharp, heavy instrument like an axe or machete.
The Naked Accused
Most startlingly, the jury was told that both Frost and Sterry were discovered at the property completely naked. They were allegedly covered in Mr. Chapple's blood, leading prosecutors to assert their guilt is 'written in the blood at the scene'.
Mr. Hunter detailed that Frost was found inside the blood-spattered shed, while Sterry was located outside the property, also unclothed. Both were arrested at the scene.
Victim and Motive
Stephen Chapple was described as a vulnerable man who lived alone. The prosecution suggested a possible motive, stating that Mr. Chapple was known to keep a substantial amount of cash in his home, and that a quantity of money was missing following the attack.
Daniel Frost, of no fixed address, and Charlie Sterry, from Bridgwater, Somerset, both deny the charge of murder. The trial, presided over by Mrs Justice Cutts, is expected to last several weeks as the jury examines the horrific evidence.
