Man Found Guilty Of Murdering Newhaven Couple

A man who admitted killing a young couple at their home in Newhaven has been found guilty of their murders.

Derek Martin, 67, walked into Brighton Police Station on 9 June 2023 and told officers he had “killed two people”.

He admitted causing the deaths of Chloe and Josh Bashford but denied murder, claiming diminished responsibility.

Following a three-week trial at Lewes Crown Court, a jury found him guilty of two counts of murder on Friday (24 October).

He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 6 November.

The court heard Martin attacked 30-year-old Chloe during an argument at the family home in Lewes Road, before fatally stabbing and strangling her husband Josh, 33, when he returned home shortly afterwards.

The couple’s four children were not harmed.

After the killings, Martin collected the children from school and took them out for food before later handing himself in to police.

Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team thanked the family for their “courage and strength” during the investigation.