A MAN stabbed a married couple to death in their home then calmly picked their four children up from school, a court heard.
Derek Martin, 67, allegedly beat his stepdaughter Chloe Bashford, 30, with a hammer before knifing her multiple times.
Chloe and Josh Bashford were stabbed to death at home
Eddie MitchellDerek Martin has denied murder[/caption]
When her husband Josh, 33, arrived home from work, Martin chased him up the stairs and stabbed him four times, jurors heard.
Martin then calmly picked up the couple’s four children, who called him “grandad”, from school and took them to Costa.
Lewes Crown Court heard he later made his way to a police station where he told officers: “I’ve murdered two people”.
Martin said he felt he was getting “used” by people all of the time and had got into a lot of debt.
On June 9, 2023, he was cleaning windows at Chloe’s Newhaven, East Sussex, home when he “flipped” after the mum began discussing money.
Julian Evans KC, prosecuting, said: “Chloe and Joshua were attacked and killed in quick succession. Both attacks took place inside their home address.
“Chloe was attacked first. When she was attacked, Chloe and Derek Martin were in the house together. Josh was not there. He was about to arrive at home.
“He attacked Chloe with a hammer. He hit her with the hammer on the top of her head. Then he went to the kitchen to retrieve a large knife. Having done so, he repeatedly stabbed Chloe with that knife causing severe injuries from which she died.
“He stabbed her eight times, to the upper back and to the abdomen. Two stab wounds penetrated to a depth of about 20cm. The knife caused severe injuries from which Chloe died.
“A few minutes later, at about 12:20, Josh arrived home. Just after he entered the house, Derek Martin attacked him.”
Jurors heard Martin attacked Josh first with a knife – stabbing him four times – before strangling him.
After the horror, the pensioner attempted to clean up the scene of the crime and changed his clothes, it was said.
He then picked up the four children – telling the eldest that his parents had a “big row” – before taking them to Costa Coffee.
Martin later drove the youngsters to his ex-wife Elaine Sturges’ house – Chloe’s mum – in Brighton and dropped them off.
The court heard although he had split with Elaine many years before, Chloe still referred to Martin as her stepdad.
Martin messaged Elaine: “Elaine I’m so sorry, I can’t believe what I’ve done, I know everyone hates me anyway especially the boys, I hate myself anyway and please, please look after the children really well.
“I’m just about to walk into the police station then that’s my days over and good job too, I know it’s going to mean nothing but I’m so sorry, don’t take the children home x.”
The following day in a police interview, Martin admitted he had killed Chloe and Josh and claimed he “just flipped”.
He continued: “I don’t know, I’d just had enough, it’s just constant, money, money, money, go out, go out, go out…”
The jury was told they must consider whether at the time of the attack, Martin was he suffering from an abnormality of mental functioning which arose from a recognised medical condition.
They must also decide if any such abnormality impaired his ability to understand the nature of his own conduct; to form a rational judgement or to exercise self-control.
Finally, jurors were asked to decide whether the abnormality would provide an explanation for attacking and killing Chloe and Josh.
Martin has pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility but denies murder.
The trial continues.
PAThe couple’s four children were left orphaned[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
