A man has been found guilty of brutally attacking his stepdaughter with a hammer, then fatally stabbing her and her husband before picking up their children from school. Derek Martin, who confessed to the killings, claimed he acted in a fit of rage during a confrontation over money.
Martin bludgeoned Chloe Bashford with a hammer and subsequently stabbed her multiple times with a kitchen knife. He then waited for her husband, Josh, to return home, where he proceeded to stab and strangle him to death. Following the violent acts, Martin calmly collected the children from school, treated them to a meal, and dropped them off at their grandmother’s house before surrendering to the authorities.
Despite admitting to the crimes, Martin argued that he was suffering from a severe mental disorder at the time and denied the charges of murder. However, a jury at Brighton Law Courts deliberated for five and a half hours before finding him guilty on both counts.
The families of the victims reacted with shock as the verdict was delivered. Martin, showing no emotion, will face sentencing in November. The court learned that Martin had a prior connection to Chloe’s family and had helped them with various tasks before the tragic event unfolded.
The altercation between Martin and Chloe escalated over financial issues, leading to the violent outburst. Martin’s actions, although he claimed a mental disorder, resulted in the tragic deaths of the couple. Subsequently, he took care of the children, sent a remorseful message to their grandmother, and turned himself in at the police station.
Prior to the murders, Martin had displayed signs of mental distress, including sleep deprivation and medication non-compliance. His history of depression and suicide attempts was revealed during the trial. Martin’s defense centered on his mental health struggles, despite the overwhelming evidence against him.