Our reporter Fay Millar was a pupil at Millais school in the Eighties and was taught by Mark Parnham for art and design.

She writes: "At the time, Parnham must have been about 24 and had only been at the school for a couple of years.

"He was not a teacher who stuck in my mind once I left.

"But he seemed to be a good teacher who struck an easy rapport with his students.

"Not once in my time at the school can I remember him raising his voice.

"Every year for each of the five years I was at the school, he would write and perform in the school Christmas panto.

"I cannot remember his roles but I do remember he and Jillian, like many other teachers, seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.

"It came as a complete shock when a friend telephoned to tell me the news.

"Shock quickly turned to disbelief as I wondered how this man, who I had known as a mild-mannered teacher, had been capable of such violence.

"When I saw him walk into the witness box on the first day of the trial he looked like a different man.

"At school, he always had slightly chubby cheeks and although he never looked overweight, he looked healthy.

"Here was a man who had lost a lot of weight and was in tears most of the time.

I cannot remember much about Jillian Parnham as I was never taught by her, although many of my friends were.

"Everyone I have spoken to has described her as an excellent teacher who cared for her pupils.

"Whatever the reasons for his actions he took his wife's life and no matter what she did, she didn't deserve that.

"His actions have left two children without a mother and no matter how much he loves them they will have to grow up with the knowledge their father killed their mother.

"It is them I feel sorry for."