A man with a violent history was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal killings of his stepdaughter and her husband in their residence before picking up their children from school. Derek Martin admitted to losing control and attacking Chloe Bashford, 30, with a hammer and inflicting eight stab wounds on her. He then pursued Josh Bashford, who was returning from work, into a bedroom, where he fatally stabbed and strangled him.
The murders stemmed from a financial disagreement between Martin and Chloe, where Martin insisted she owed him a portion of a £1,500 debt. Following the heinous acts, Martin calmly collected the couple’s four children from school and took them to their grandmother’s house. He voluntarily surrendered to the authorities, confessing to the double homicide. Martin was convicted of both murders and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 29 years.
During the trial, it was revealed that the victims, Josh and Chloe, were discovered dead at their residence in Newhaven, East Sussex. Martin and Chloe had a close relationship, but a dispute over money escalated, leading to the fatal confrontation. Martin’s uncontrollable rage resulted in him using a hammer and a knife to end the lives of the couple.
After the killings, Martin picked up the younger children from school and treated them to a meal before taking them to their grandmother’s house. Despite being previously married to Chloe’s mother, Martin maintained a connection with the family, with Chloe considering him her stepfather.
In a remorseful message to Elaine Sturges, Chloe’s mother, Martin expressed deep regret for his actions and pleaded for the children’s well-being. Although described as a grandfatherly figure by Chloe’s eldest son, Martin was known to have a quick temper. Despite attempts to argue diminished responsibility, Martin was unanimously convicted of the murders by the jury after extensive deliberation.