Man found guilty of couple's murder in their home

A man who killed a couple in their home before picking up their children from school has been found guilty of their murder.

Derek Martin, from Brighton, East Sussex, admitted to the manslaughter of Josh Bashford, 33, and his 30-year-old wife, Chloe, in their Newhaven home in June 2023, but denied murder, claiming diminished responsibility.

The 67-year-old admitted hitting Ms Bashford with a hammer and then stabbing her, and stabbing then strangling Mr Bashford.

The trial at Brighton Law Courts was told that the defendant was very close to the couple and their four children and spent a lot of time at their home.

The jury unanimously found Martin guilty on both counts of murder after five and a half hours deliberation.

Martin, bearded and wearing a grey track suit, stood impassively as the verdicts were delivered.

Judge Mrs Justice Thornton had asked people in the public gallery to remain quiet as the verdicts were delivered.

Josh and Chloe Bashford were killed in June 2023 at their home in Newhaven

Martin declined to give evidence at the trial.

The jury heard how he took the couple's four children to school and helped with decorating and other jobs.

He was married to Ms Bashford's mother long before she was born but the two had become close in recent years.

On the day of the killings, Martin had helped with the school run, then bought her breakfast, the jury heard.

Back at the house he had been cleaning the windows, he later told police, when they had a row about money and he became enraged.

He hit her over the head with a hammer, then got a knife from the kitchen and stabbed her multiple times.

When her husband got home, Martin followed him upstairs then stabbed him several times before putting a belt or rope around his neck.

The court was told he did not have a history of violence but had experienced depression and anxiety.

Derek Martin had admitted the manslaughter of Chloe and Josh Bashford

Brooklyn Bashford, the murdered couple's 18-year-old son, said outside court the family were "really happy" with the verdict.

He said: "Everybody's a bit emotional. It's been two and a half years to finally get here."

Billy Bashford, brother of the murdered man, said: "This has been justice for Josh and Chloe."

Josh and Chloe Bashford lived with their four children in Newhaven

Elaine Sturges - Ms Bashford's mother and Martin's ex-wife - said her former spouse had been "like Jekyll and Hyde" and had severe mood swings related to gambling.

But she believed he had changed in recent years and began including him in family life.

"He had a temper, but I never thought he'd be capable of doing anything like this," she said.

"I would never have let him near Chloe and Josh if I thought it was like this."

Jason Godden, Ms Bashford's father, said he was "absolutely devastated" for his grandchildren and could not believe they have "lost both their parents over this idiot that's called himself grandad for some reason".

Mr Bashford's father Andrew Bashford said Martin removed door handles from rooms and hid the couple's car on a different road after the killings "just to make it look like no-one was there".

"He had very clear thinking afterwards, very clear thinking," Andrew Bashford said.

Josh Bashford's mother Sharon told the BBC that "any verdict or punishment" for Martin "would never make any difference" and he deserved "everything he gets".

Martin wrote a hand-written note from prison confirming where he had discarded Chloe Bashford's phone

Senior investigating police officer Kimball Edey said that while the attack likely happened "over a relatively short period of time" it was "sustained".

"There were a number of things that happened that, in my view, Derek Martin would have had to have sufficient thought in order to carry out," Det Ch Insp Edey said.

Martin will be sentenced on 6 November.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.