Man sentenced to life imprisonment for double murder

A man who killed a young couple at their home in Newhaven has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Derek Martin walked into Brighton Police Station on the evening of 9 June, 2023 and told officers: “I’ve killed two people.”

He admitted causing the deaths of Chloe and Josh Bashford, but denied murder due to diminished responsibility resulting from a depressive disorder.

A jury found him guilty of two counts of murder on Friday 24 October following a three-week trial at Lewes Crown Court, sitting at Brighton.

He was remanded in custody and appeared before the same court on Thursday 6 November, where he was told he must serve a minimum of 29 years’ imprisonment, reduced to 26 years, seven months and seven days, for time already served in custody.

Upon sentencing, the Honourable Justice Thornton KC paid tribute to the Bashford families for their dignity throughout the investigation.

She said the attacks by Martin were “driven by rage and resentment”, and that the murders of Chloe and Josh “have caused profound grief to their families”.

Addressing Martin directly, she added: “It is clear that Chloe and Josh were loving, and loved. As a result of your actions, their families will suffer for the rest of their lives.”

During the trial, the court was shown CCTV clips of Martin going about his normal routine before the incident occurred. This included ordering a drink at Costa in Newhaven and going for breakfast with Chloe, 30, at The Stonehouse restaurant in Peacehaven.

Later they returned together to the Bashford family home in Lewes Road, Newhaven, where Chloe and Josh lived with their four children.

In a police interview, Martin confessed he had been cleaning a window at the property when he “just flipped” over a row about money with Chloe.

He struck her over the head with a hammer then stabbed her to death.

Martin said that Josh, 33, arrived home a short while later and saw him with a knife in his hand. Josh ran upstairs but was chased by Martin, who repeatedly stabbed him then strangled him to death.

The 67-year-old, of Moulsecoomb Way, Brighton, then changed his clothes, picked up the couple’s four children from school, and took them to both Costa and McDonald’s in Newhaven.

During this time, he discarded Chloe’s mobile phone in bushes of the nearby Sainsbury’s.

He returned the children to their grandmother’s house in Brighton, then bought some beers from a shop in Whitehawk which he drank on the seafront.

Shortly afterwards, he handed himself in at the police station.

Officers attended the Bashford family home where they discovered the bodies of Chloe and Josh, and Martin was arrested.

The court heard Martin and Chloe became close a couple of years ago. Martin had been known to Chloe as he was previously married to her mother, but they had divorced some years before she was born. 

While he was remanded in custody, Sussex Police issued a public appeal to help find Chloe’s mobile phone. Martin saw the appeal and passed a hand-written note to a prison guard, which confirmed where he had discarded the device.

This contained vital evidence which was subsequently used in the trial.

After sentencing, investigating officer Sam Legate, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “Today marks the conclusion of a long and complex investigation into the brutal murders of Chloe and Josh Bashford at their home in Newhaven, on 9 June 2023.

“The loss suffered by their family and friends is difficult to comprehend, and our thoughts remain with them all. They have shown amazing strength and courage throughout the investigation, and no outcome will ever make up for the heartache they continue to endure.

“I acknowledge the impact this incident has had on the wider community, and express my sincere thanks to the public for their support.

“I would also like to commend the professionalism and dedication of the many members of staff and police officers who have worked tirelessly over the past two-and-a-half years to help bring Derek Martin to justice.

“While today’s sentence cannot undo the immense suffering he caused, I hope it provides some reassurance that Sussex Police will continue to thoroughly investigate major crimes, to catch criminals and to seek justice for victims.”