Man Found Guilty of Double Murder
A 67-year-old man from Brighton, Derek Martin, has been found guilty of murdering a wife and her husband at their home in Newhaven.
Martin had admitted to killing Josh and Chloe Bashford in June 2023 but denied murder, citing diminished responsibility. On the day of the attack, Martin, who was known to the victims, had breakfast with Chloe before returning to their house, where an argument ensued.
According to Martin's statement to the police, he hit Chloe on the head with a hammer and then retrieved a knife from the kitchen, repeatedly stabbing her. When Josh arrived home, Martin repeatedly stabbed him and then strangled him.
“This has been an extremely challenging case to prosecute. Derek Martin’s claim that he had “lost it” when he killed Chloe and Josh did not tie up with the evidence of what happened on that fateful day.” - Marko Brooke, Crown Prosecution Service
Author's summary: Man guilty of double murder in Newhaven.