Overview
- Prosecutors outlined how Chloe Bashford was struck with a hammer around 12:16 p.m. and then stabbed eight times after an argument over money at the house.
- Minutes later, Josh Bashford arrived home and was stabbed four times upstairs and had his neck compressed with a ligature, the court was told.
- Martin told police he felt he was being used and had lent the couple money, saying he ‘just lost it’, with the jury hearing figures of roughly £1,000 for a car, £600 for bills and £1,500 for expenses.
- After the killings he removed or disturbed items such as door handles and a doorbell camera, disposed of a phone, collected the four children, and then confessed at Brighton police station.
- Five psychiatrists reported he had a depressive disorder at the time, with evidence he had stopped medication and had prior detentions under the Mental Health Act, though experts disagree on how far this reduced his culpability.