Chilling video footage captured the moment a man took his former stepdaughter’s children out for fast food following the brutal murder of their parents.
On October 24, Derek Martin was convicted of killing Chloe Bashford and her husband Josh at their residence in Newhaven, East Sussex in June 2023. The 67-year-old, who had a previous marriage to Chloe’s mother, confessed to police that he flew into a rage over a money dispute while cleaning a window at their home.
After fatally striking Chloe with a hammer and stabbing her, Martin confronted Josh upon his return, leading to a violent altercation where Josh was fatally stabbed and strangled. Subsequently, Martin changed clothes, fetched the couple’s four children from school, and treated them to outings at various local establishments.
Surveillance footage captured Martin taking the children out and disposing of evidence while fabricating a story to mislead the kids about their parents’ absence. He also removed door handles at the home to prevent the children from discovering the bodies upon their return.
Following the outing, Martin returned the children to their grandmother’s residence before indulging in drinks at a nearby location. He eventually turned himself in, admitting to the double homicide at a police station.
Despite claiming diminished responsibility due to a depressive disorder, Martin was found guilty of two counts of murder after a jury at Lewes Crown Court rejected his defense. He is currently in custody awaiting sentencing on November 6.
Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey praised the victims’ families for their cooperation during the investigation, expressing sympathy for their loss and commending their resilience. Additionally, Marko Brooke from the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the meticulous prosecution process in the case, emphasizing the lack of justification for Martin’s actions and acknowledging the support of the victims’ loved ones throughout the trial.