Relatives of Newhaven couple brutally murdered by family friend can finally grieve as attacker faces life
Derek Martin, from Brighton, will serve life for killing Chloe and Josh Bashford in June 2023
The family of a Newhaven couple brutally murdered in their own home say they can finally begin to grieve now their attacker's been sentenced.
Derek Martin, from Brighton, will serve life for killing Chloe and Josh Bashford in June 2023, after a row over money.
The family friend hit Chloe over the head with a hammer and stabbed her to death - before turning on her husband, Josh, who he stabbed and strangled when he arrived home from work minutes later.
Following the attack, the 67-year-old collected the couple's four children from school, taking them to McDonald's and Costa, before dropping them to their nan's house.
After texting their grandmother an apology and drinking beer on the beach, he handed himself into police.
Parents were "the glue that held us together"
Brooklyn Bashford, the couple's eldest son, was fifteen when it happened.
He said that to him and his siblings, their parents were at "the center of our world… our foundation and the glue that held us together." But since their deaths, he feels angry he can't remember them without thinking of the suffering they endured:
"When at school, work, or anything, it haunts and it hovers over you.
"Now that it's done with, I feel like that can slowly fade away, and we can start remembering them for the good things."
Derek a "trusted" family friend
Meanwhile, Josh's brother, Billy, recalled how they "trusted" Derek and "welcomed him into the family home" - and questioned why he didn't just walk away instead of killing them.
He described the couple as "kind, lovely, caring people", who were the "best parents" to their children.
Now - he feels justice has been served on behalf of his brother:
"Fingers crossed we can start to slowly move on.
"Now we have to start to honour Chloe and Josh's memory, and do the best we can to live all of our lives together." Martin will spend a minimum of 29 years behind bars.