CCTV footage has revealed how a mother-of-four had breakfast with her stepfather hours before he allegedly murdered her and her husband.
Chloe Bashford could be seen in the clip, played to jurors, heading into a carvery restaurant in Peacehaven, East Sussex, with Derek Martin.
The 30-year-old mother had dropped off her children at school before Martin, 67, brought her a morning snack, the court heard.
Afterwards, the defendant, wearing a white t-shirt, drove his stepdaughter to Sainsbury’s to pick up some shopping.
Then, hours later, Martin allegedly went on a rampage, bludgeoning Mrs Bashford with a hammer before repeatedly stabbing her with a knife, jurors were told.
The court heard when her husband Josh Bashford walked through the door after returning from work he saw Martin standing in the hallway with a knife.
Martin then chased the 33-year-old up the stairs and into the bedroom before stabbing him four times and strangling him to death with a ligature, jurors were told.
A court heard Martin waited and then calmly picked up Mrs Bashford’s four children after school and dropped them with their grandmother.
He later walked into a police station and told officers: ‘I’ve murdered two people’.
Chloe Bashford (right) could be seen in clip, played to jurors, heading into a carvery restaurant in Peacehaven, East Sussex, with Derek Martin (seen left)
Pictured is Derek Martin, who is accused of murdering Chloe and her husband Josh, 33
The jury heard Martin, had been depressed in the run up to the killings and had felt ‘used’ by the couple who owed him hundreds of pounds.
Brighton Crown Court heard Martin enjoyed helping his stepdaughter out and often took her four children, Brooklyn, 15, Ava, 12, Mila, seven and Josh Jnr, four, to and from school.
Martin had also been carrying out a catalogue of DIY jobs on their home and had lent the couple around £1,000 for a car, £600 for bills, and another £1,500 to meet family expenses.
Chloe was meant to be paying back the money she had borrowed in monthly instalments.
On June 9 2023 Martin had been carrying out more DIY at her house in Newhaven, East Sussex when an argument erupted between the pair over the money Chloe owed him.
Julian Evans KC, prosecuting, said: ‘Mr Martin said the argument was “heated” and although he could not remember the exact words, he said something to the effect of, “You f******g promised me”.
The court heard Martin claimed said they argued and had ‘a bit of a screaming match.’ He said to Chloe, “I want my f*****g money”. She said, “Well don’t bother with us anymore. Don’t bother coming round anymore”.
Mr Evans said he said: ‘After I had done all that work. Well that’s when I sort of lost it…When she (Chloe) said don’t bother anymore, I just lost it. I just went berserk.’
Josh Bashford, 33, and his wife Chloe Bashford, 30, are pictured together
The couple were allegedly murdered in their home by Derek Martin
The prosecutor told the court that Mrs Bashford was attacked first with the hammer before then allegedly being stabbed by Martin.
He said: ‘He attacked Chloe with a hammer. He hit her with the hammer on the top of her head. Then he went to the kitchen to retrieve a large knife. Having done so, he repeatedly stabbed Chloe with that knife causing severe injuries from which she died.
‘He stabbed her eight times, to the upper back and to the abdomen. Two stab wounds penetrated to a depth of about 20cm. The knife caused severe injuries from which Chloe died.
‘A few minutes later, at about 12.20pm, Josh arrived home. Just after he entered the house, Derek Martin attacked him.’
After picking up Mrs Bashford’s four children and leaving the youngsters with his ex-wife, Elaine Sturges, in Brighton, he sent a text to his former lover – who was Chloe’s mother.
‘Elaine I’m so sorry, I can’t believe what I’ve done, I know everyone hates me anyway especially the boys, I hate myself anyway and please, please look after the children really well,’ Martin messaged, the court heard.
‘I’m just about to walk into the police station then that’s my days over and good job too, I know it’s going to mean nothing but I’m so sorry, don’t take the children home x.’
Martin has pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility but denies murder.
The trial continues.