UK - Chloe and Josh Bashford, killed in Newhaven, June 2023 *arrest/charged*

[thewalruswasdanny]

Inside the cemetery??

It is just inside the gates and used to be the cemetry gatehouse but is now a private rented property...which is where Chloe and Josh lived with their 4 kids and where DM killed them

 

[Dotta]

It is just inside the gates and used to be the cemetry gatehouse but is now a private rented property...which is where Chloe and Josh lived with their 4 kids and where DM killed them

This is the first time I have ever heard about ppl renting a house actually situated in the cemetery.
Is it even legal?

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1978417332067127722

"He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility
but denies murder.

A jury in Brighton heard
Martin self diagnosed himself with anxiety and depression
and told psychiatrists in Broadmoor secure hospital he heard voices.

Martin had a violent upbringing,
the court heard.

He started stealing while he was still school aged and had been in and out of prison most of his adult life.

Dr Cumming said Martin had been sectioned under the mental health act and has a history of self harm and depression.

'He is emotionally unstable, sometimes called borderline personality disorder',
the psychiatrist said."

 

[thewalruswasdanny]

I did attempt to attend court last Monday but court had finished early...so no afternoon sesh. I'll catch the bus again next Monday.

 

[crespo29]

For such a shocking case now being heard in court, it has gone very quiet. Is there some conspiracy to keep this case out of the media?

 

[Alyce]

Meant to say that the jury is 14 in number...so I guess they anticipate a long trial...judge told jurers not to discuss the case even between themselves (because they were 14) and not to look stuff up in the internet. I think the press were also underneath the Public Gallery as when the judge was talking about reporting restrictions she was kinda looking at and speaking to the area underneath us all. Tomorrow the prosection will round up, though he indicated that he hasn't much left to do. Most of the rest of the trial will be to determine if the defendant is sane. Have read in the press reports that they say he has been sectioned multiple times but I heard he had been sectioned once. Defendant claimed to be getting funds to give to victim through burglaries and he had arranged to meet up with both victims and drive to Croydon to purchase a 7 seater Zafir car. His claim was that he "Flipped" after Chloe B (victim) went on about money so he hit her with a hammer...then went to the kitchen and stabbed her with a kitchen knife 8 times...minutes after Josh B (victim) entered the house...ran upstairs looking for his wife followed by defendant who then stabbed Josh B some 4 times...he then strangled him with some rope. Think the restrictions are to do with naming the children hence the media reports on the BBC/Brighton Argus etc....one point I thought was utterly bizarre was that when they talked about the reporting restrictions (right at the start) the court could find no records of any discussion regarding this matter from previous hearings (at Lewes)...the trial has been adjourned...and adjourned...but you'd think they would...y'know...keep a record of what's going on!!!...it is...a double murder!!!...other observations - the prosecution had/has produced an A3 landscape booklet full of time-lines/photos/plans of the scene and he basically went through this booklet...the jury shared one between two. After the defendant killed the couple (this is a given - so not disputed) he removed the door handles of the bedrooms where each victim lay (he said this was to ensure the children would not see the bodies if the should come home) he also changed his bloodied clothing and removed the doorbell camera (and disgarded it in the garden..). He moved the couple's car and parked it in a residential street. He took Chloe's phone and chucked it in a bush after picking up two of the kids from Nursery and meeting the other two in Costa Coffee before going to McDonald's. Then dropped the kids off at his ex wife's (and Chloe's mother) smoked ciggies and drank beer on Brighton Seafront...then turned himself into Edward Street Police station...telling the enquiry woman..."I have murdered two people and you need to arrest me"

I was just having a re read of this post today Danny and it reminded me. Several years ago we had a lovely sleuther on here who was local to the area. She said that in her experience Lewes Court was absolutely the worst she had ever encountered in terms of efficiency and operation.

 

[rvlvr]

For such a shocking case now being heard in court, it has gone very quiet. Is there some conspiracy to keep this case out of the media?

Why would there be?

“The evidence in the case has concluded, which will be followed by legal argument and direction to the jury, with closing speeches and the judge's summing up expected on Wednesday.”

Newhaven killer Derek Martin will not give defence evidence

Derek Martin has admitted the manslaughter of Josh and Chloe Bashford in their Newhaven home.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

www.courtserve.net


The Crown Court
at Lewes Combined Court

[td]

Daily Courtroom List for Wednesday 22 October 2025​

[/td]​

[td]

FINAL 1​

[/td]​

 

[Alyce]

Why would there be?

“The evidence in the case has concluded, which will be followed by legal argument and direction to the jury, with closing speeches and the judge's summing up expected on Wednesday.”

Newhaven killer Derek Martin will not give defence evidence

Derek Martin has admitted the manslaughter of Josh and Chloe Bashford in their Newhaven home.

www.bbc.co.uk

Thanks for the update @rvlvr - much appreciated as there has been very little reporting on this case in the UK media.