Killer who told officers 4 chilling words after murder learns his fate in court

Derek Martin, 67, has been jailed after he brutally murdered his stepdaughter and her husband. Martin attacked Chloe Bashford, 30, with a hammer and stabbed her eight times, before ambushing Josh Bashford after he arrived home from work.

Mr Bashford was chased into an upstairs bedroom by Martin, who then stabbed him and strangled him to death. After the horrifying murders, the killer calmly headed out to pick up the couple's four children from school. He later turned himself into police and told officers at the station: "I've killed two people."

Police went to the Bashford's family home, where they discovered the couple's bodies. Martin was then arrested.

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

Martin's life sentence has a minimum term of 29 years. Minus the time he has already served, Martin will now spend more than 26 years in prison.

In a victim impact statement, the couple's eldest son, Brooklyn Bashford, 18, said: "It's completely torn us apart, I have nightmares and constant flashbacks to that day. There's not a day goes by that I do not think about them.

"Holidays, birthdays, Christmas are now painful reminders of what was taken from us. I know that pain will never fade. It has shattered an entire family.

"We will always remember them. I will never forgive him, none of us will. They were the best parents a family could wish for and we miss them every day."

The jury heard Martin often took the couple's four children to school and helped with decorating and other jobs.

He was married to Ms Bashford's mother long before she was born, but the two had become close in recent years.

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.

Judge Dame Justine Thornton said: "The attacks were driven by rage and resentment ... As a result of your actions, their families will suffer for the rest of their lives."