Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke worked in a bank in the day, but friends knew of his obsession with martial arts and weapons, he had a large collection of swords and knives in his bedroom of the family home in Melksham, Wiltshire, where he lived with his parents. he once joked about killing his parents.

Monday 6th December 2004, Clarke attacked his parents, his father Milroy, who was an ex-policeman, and his mother Joan, a childminder, they received over 30-stab wounds. 

During the day he attempted to create an alibi, by phoning home on several occasions. 

After killing them Clarke went to a Blink 182 concert at Wembley arena, with friend Stuart Painter, taking the murder weapon and bloodstained clothing with him, disposing of them in London, the weapon or clothing was never found.

Tuesday 7th December 2004, After returning from the concert and arriving home, Clarke called the police to say he had found his parents dead. The bodies of Mr Clarke, aged-70, and Mrs Clarke, aged-56, were discovered in the early hours, at their home on the Berryfield Park Estate in Melksham, Wiltshire.

Clarke claimed to have found his parents dead after returning from the concert. He also explained to police how the television was on and the microwave in the kitchen was repeating its cycle.

Upstairs in the doorway of a bedroom he told police he had discovered the body of his father, and in another room the body of Mrs Clarke, his mother. Police noted that there was no sign of forced entry and nothing had been stolen.

Roy had been stabbed 17-times. Joan had 16-wounds, they seemed to match each other.

16th January 2006, trial starts at Bristol Crown court, with Clarke charged with two counts of murder. Clarke denied both counts. 

Friend Mr Palmer denied assisting an offender.

Thursday 23rd February 2006, Clarke was found guilty of murdering his parents. 

The jury, of seven women and five men, took 16-hours to find him guilty of two counts of murder by a majority of 11 to one.

He was sentenced to 28-years in prison. 

21st April 2006, Clarke, who is being held at HMP Bristol has submitted a request to marry his girlfriend. The couple met on the internet, and have only met in prison.