A 67-year-old man who brutally murdered a young couple in their Newhaven home before taking their children to McDonald’s has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Derek Martin, from Brighton, was sentenced at Brighton Law Courts on Thursday after being found guilty of killing Josh and Chloe Bashford in June 2023.
He must serve a minimum of 29 years before being eligible for parole, meaning he will spend over 26 years behind bars after time already served.
The court heard that Martin, who was previously married to Chloe’s mother, struck Ms Bashford with a hammer before stabbing her multiple times.
He then stabbed and strangled Mr Bashford when he returned home. After the murders, Martin calmly collected the couple’s children from school, took them to McDonald’s, and later surrendered to police.
Justice Dame Thornton described Martin’s actions as “driven by rage and resentment,” saying his crimes had caused profound grief that would haunt the victims’ families forever.
In a victim impact statement, the couple’s eldest son, 18-year-old Brooklyn Bashford, said the killings had torn everyone apart, but the sentencing brought some relief and closure. “It’s like a chapter closed,” he said. “We can finally move on.”
Prosecutors revealed Martin was in severe debt, largely from gambling, and often argued with Chloe over money. Psychiatrists assessed him for diminished responsibility but found no grounds to excuse the deliberate nature of the killings.
“This tragedy has shattered an entire family,” Brooklyn said. “We will never forgive him.”
