Couple killed after debt argument, court told

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

A man killed a couple in their own home after an argument over money, a court has heard.

Derek Martin, 67, from Brighton, East Sussex, is accused of murdering Josh Bashford, 33, and his 30-year-old wife, Chloe.

Mr Martin, who had been previously married to Ms Bashford's mother, told a psychiatrist that Ms Bashford was due to pay a tenth of the £1,500 she owed him, the jury heard.

Mr Martin admits killing the couple in Newhaven on 9 June 2023 but denies their murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Brighton Law Courts heard on Tuesday that consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Seena Fazel assessed Mr Martin following the deaths.

The doctor was told that the defendant was £8,000 in debt at the time of the killings, mainly due to gambling debts, according to prosecutors.

Julian Evans KC said Ms Bashford – who jurors heard thought of Mr Martin as a stepfather – was meant to pay the accused money monthly.

The court was told that Mr Martin argued with Ms Bashford until she told him, "don't bother anymore", at which point he "just lost it".

The defendant later told Dr Fazel that he recalled hitting Ms Bashford with the hammer he was doing work around the house with before stabbing her once, Mr Evans KC said.

Derek Martin denies murdering parents-of-four Chloe and Josh Bashford

Jurors were previously told that Mr Martin had stabbed Ms Bashford eight times, then attacked Mr Bashford when he returned home shortly later.

He stabbed Mr Bashford four times and then strangled him with a rope or belt, the court heard.

Prosecutors said that Mr Martin told the psychiatrist he went to pick up the couple's children because he wanted it to be "as normal as possible" for them.

The court heard that he told the psychiatrist he did not plan to kill either of them but he felt he was being "used", which were thoughts "in his head", the court heard.

Mr Martin said he had not been taking his antidepressant medication since January because he thought it was not helping, the jury heard.

The trial continues.