Chilling clip shows man taking kids to McDonald’s after killing their parents | UK | News

Chilling CCTV footage shows a man taking four children out for dinner at McDonald’s just hours after killing their parents. Derek Martin, 67, was found guilty on Friday of murdering Chloe Bashford and her husband Josh at their home in Newhaven, East Sussex, in June 2023.

Martin, who was previously married to Chloe’s mother, told police he “just took a tumble” during an argument about money while cleaning a window at the house. Martin first attacked Chloe, 30, hitting her in the head with a hammer and then stabbing her to death, according to Sussex Police. When Josh, 33, arrived home a short time later and saw Martin holding a knife, he ran upstairs to escape but Martin followed him, stabbing and strangling him to death.

After the murders, Martin changed clothes, picked up the couple’s four children from school and took them to Costa and McDonald’s in Newhaven.

CCTV caught him walking the children outside and later throwing Chloe’s mobile phone into bushes near the Sainsbury’s store.

He told the children that their parents had an argument and removed all the door handles of the house so that they could not find the bodies if they returned.

Martin then dropped the boys off at their grandmother’s house in Brighton, bought some beer from a shop in Whitehawk and drank it by the sea.

Shortly after, he went to the police station and confessed: “I killed two people.”

When officers went to the Bashford home, they found the couple’s bodies and arrested Martin.

While on remand he saw the police objection and gave the prison guard a handwritten note confirming where he had dumped Chloe’s phone.

Martin admitted killing the couple but claimed diminished responsibility due to a depressive disorder.

After a three-week trial at Lewes Crown Court, which heard evidence from five psychiatrists, the jury rejected his defense and found him guilty of two murders.

He remains in custody and will be sentenced on November 6.

The team said: “I would like to thank Chloe and Josh’s children and families for their patience during this investigation.

“It goes without saying how sorry I am that they had to lose Chloe and Josh, and I admire their courage and strength following the events of June 9, 2023.

“Today’s result unfortunately won’t change what happened but hopefully it will close this chapter and allow them to move forward.
“I would also like to thank the citizens who supported this investigation.

“Finally, I commend the many staff and police officers who worked tirelessly to bring Derek Martin to justice.”

Marko Brooke, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: “This was an extremely challenging case to prosecute.

“Derek Martin’s claim that he ‘lost it’ while killing Chloe and Josh was not consistent with the evidence. He waited for Josh to come home and chased him upstairs before attacking him.

“Martin then calmly cleared the scene and made a deliberate effort to prevent the children from realizing what had happened before turning himself in and admitting what he had done.

“In cases like this, most of the evidence depends on psychiatric evaluation.

“Extensive additional research was needed to examine the initial conclusions of some experts who suggested that Martin might partially defend diminished liability.

“This meant the case took longer to reach court and we are aware it caused further distress for Chloe and Josh’s family and friends.

“We are immensely grateful to them for their patience and support during this terrible ordeal and hope that today’s decision will offer them at least a modicum of comfort.”