Riel Karmy-Jones QC successful in Prosecution for Murder

Riel Karmy-Jones QC, leading Siobhan Linsley of CPS Wessex, has successfully prosecuted 2 teenage boys for the murder of Edward Reeve, a vulnerable man with mental health difficulties, on New Year’s Eve 2021.

Following a trial lasting 4 weeks before Sweeney J, the jury were unanimous in finding both defendants Jack Hindley and Samuel Jones, guilty of Murder.

They were sentenced on 28 September, 2022 to detention at His Majesty’s pleasure, with a minimum term of 18 years.

Winchester Crown Court heard the pair “berated” Mr Reeve in front of their friends before stabbing him eight times, after which they hugged and fist-bumped in celebration of what they had done.

Mr. Reeve had been put into contact with Jack Hindley on the 29th of December 2020, by another boy who said that Hindley could supply Mr. Reeve with drugs. Hindley came to Mr. Reeve’s home with some friends that same night and smoked drugs and drank alcohol there. On leaving the property, he brazenly helped himself to Mr. Reeve’s computer.

Two days later, on New Year’s Eve, Hindley returned, bringing with him Sam Jones, and three female friends. While there the boys smoked drugs and drank alcohol. The defendants became aggressive and began punching holes in the walls, causing the girls to feel uncomfortable and leave.

Hindley and Jones then produced two knives that they had brought with them, and launched an unprovoked vicious and brutal attack on Mr. Reeve, stabbing and slashing him multiple times, including to the face, hands, back and belly. Blood spatter evidence at the scene showed that Mr. Reeve was pursued through his home and had, at one stage, been sat in a chair while he was stabbed. A bloody handprint on a garden wall behind a shed revealed that he had sought to hide to get away from his attackers.

After the defendants left the scene they laughed and bragged to the girls and others about what they had done.

Riel and Siobhan were instructed by Andrew Coley, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wessex, and worked with the Dorset Police Major Crime Investigation Team which was led by DCI Simon Huxter, and DS Sarah Gedge.

News stories:

[BBC News]
[The Daily Mail]
[Daily Express]
[Bournemouth Echo]
[Dorset Live]
[Advertiser and Times]
[BBC News]
[ITV News]
[Bournemouth Echo]
[Dorset Live]