Derek Martin, a 67-year-old man from Brighton, was convicted on Friday for the brutal murder of Chloe Bashford and her husband Josh in their Newhaven, East Sussex home in June 2023. Martin, who was previously married to Chloe’s mother, confessed to the police that he had lost control during a dispute over money while he was cleaning a window at the couple’s residence.
According to Sussex Police, Martin attacked Chloe, 30, with a hammer before fatally stabbing her. When Josh, 33, arrived home and saw Martin with a knife, he attempted to escape by running upstairs but was subsequently stabbed and strangled to death.
Following the gruesome act, Martin changed his clothes and picked up the couple’s four children from school. He then took them to Costa and McDonald’s in Newhaven. CCTV footage revealed Martin disposing of Chloe’s mobile phone in the bushes near a Sainsbury’s supermarket. He had told the children that their parents had an argument and removed all the door handles in their home to prevent them from discovering the bodies.
After returning the children to their grandmother’s house in Brighton, Martin purchased beers from a shop in Whitehawk and drank them on the seafront. He later turned himself in at the police station, confessing, “I’ve killed two people.” The police then discovered the bodies of Chloe and Josh at their home and arrested Martin.
While in custody, Martin saw a police appeal and handed a handwritten note to a prison guard, revealing the location of Chloe’s discarded phone. He admitted to causing the couple’s deaths but pleaded not guilty to murder, citing diminished responsibility due to a depressive disorder.
However, after a three-week trial and the examination of five psychiatrists’ reports, a jury at Lewes Crown Court rejected Martin’s claim of diminished responsibility and found him guilty of two counts of murder. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on November 6.
Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, expressed his gratitude to Chloe and Josh’s children and their families for their patience during the investigation. He also thanked the public and the police officers who worked tirelessly to bring Martin to justice.
Marko Brooke from the Crown Prosecution Service acknowledged the challenges in prosecuting the case, particularly in scrutinizing the initial position of some expert psychiatrists who suggested that Martin had a partial defense of diminished responsibility. He expressed his appreciation for the patience and support of Chloe and Josh’s family and friends during the difficult time and hoped that the verdicts would bring them some comfort.