'Pure evil': Two teenagers fatally stab vulnerable musician eight times, brag about it to girls later
CHRISTCHURCH, DORSET: Two teenage boys, said to be “pure evil,” have been sentenced to life for fatally stabbing a musician. Along with sentencing the killers, the judge, Justice Sweeney, also declared that there was no need to hide their identities since it was "very strongly in the public interest". He noted, “There is greater weight in open justice and unrestricted reporting than in the interests of these defendants.”
As per reports, the sentencing came after the 17-year-olds, Jack Hindley and Samuel Jones, were found guilty of killing Edward Reeve in Christchurch, Dorset, on December 31, 2021. The crime was carried out at the 35-year-old victim’s home after he invited both of the criminals to his home. At the time, Hindley from Christchurch, and Jones, from Bournemouth, were 16-year-olds, who stabbed the “talented” keyboard player eight times.
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While sentencing the two young men to a minimum of 18 years, the judge said, “They jointly and brutally attacked him in the living room with their respective knives, with Jack striking the first blow. Edward Reeve made desperate attempts to get away from the attack on him including trying and succeeding to get out into the garden. However, in the end, he suffered eight stab wounds.”
Sweeney went on to explain that after killing Reeve, the two teens “excitedly bragged” about it before three girls and also did “fist-bumping, laughing and hugging” before taking a “team photograph”. The court was told that the first meeting of Reeve, who suffered from a psychiatric illness, happened with the two teens outside a local shop, where he “had sought to buy drugs from them to self-medicate for his mental well-being,” WalesOnline reported. Riel Karmy-Jones KC, prosecuting, said, “The victim was particularly vulnerable because of his disability.”
Reeve then reportedly called Hindley and Jones to his house. However, again on December 31, 2021, when they re-visited, they killed him. Initially, they claimed to act in self-defense after Reeve accused them of computer theft but the two were found guilty of murder unanimously by the jury.
The judge stated, “Edward Reeve did nothing to justify what happened to him in the following eight or so minutes when Jack and Sam were alone with him in the house. They jointly and brutally attacked him in the living room with their respective knives, with Jack, as he admits, striking the first blow,” before adding, “Edward Reeve was, it is clear, much loved with much to live for despite his problems. The impact of his murder on his mother, father, aunt and friends has inevitably been immense and will be long lasting.”
Reeve's father, John, also read to the court, “I devoted my whole life to him and his happiness and his well-being. He was known far and wide for his music which was played on BBC radio. He was a lovely man and a talented musician. They stole Edward’s life in a wicked, violent and despicable manner.”
Reeve's grieving mother Jayne Newey claimed, “He was a beautiful boy and grew up to be such a kind and gentle man,” while his aunt, Helen Newey, called Hindley and Jones “pure evil” before terming the murder as a “horror show”.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick added, “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of Edward Reeve and my thanks to all those involved in bringing this particularly tragic and difficult case to court. This was a truly abhorrent crime, one which has taken away a man’s life and destroyed the future of the two teenagers who committed it. I just hope that this case brings home to those who choose to carry and use a knife that there can be truly devastating consequences to your actions.”