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'Years of court delays have destroyed our family'

Lucinda Adam
BBC Sussex, political reporter
Sussex Police Josh and Chloe Bashford embrace looking towards the camera in a garden. On the left Josh has short light brown hair and a stubble beard. He wears a grey t-shirt and a black puffer coat. On the right Chloe has long black hair and wears a black jumper with diamante on the sleeve. Sussex Police
Two years after Josh and Chloe Bashford were killed, court delays mean their alleged murderer is yet to face trial

A family say they have been "destroyed" by multiple delays of the trial of a man who is accused of murdering their son and his wife in their family home.

Josh Bashford, 33, and his 30-year-old wife, Chloe, died in Newhaven in June 2023, and a man was charged by police soon after.

A trial has been postponed five times - delays which Josh's mother, Sharon Bashford, said were "cruel", and had left the family feeling there has not been any justice for her son.

The Ministry of Justice said in a statement: "We know that justice delayed is justice denied, and it is clear there are many cases taking far too long to go to trial."

Mrs Bashford said: "We're fighting every day and it takes so much strength from us. We can't move on with our lives.

"We're tired. We're finding it difficult to cope. We don't sleep, we just exist."

In August 2023, Derek Martin, from Moulsecoomb in Brighton, denied murdering the couple.

A trial was due to begin in October of that year, but following a series of delays, a brief hearing was held last February.

The trial was then adjourned until October.

The delays have meant that the family were left not knowing how Josh died, Mrs Bashford said.

On the left Andrew Bashford has short grey hair with a grey goatee beard. He wears a brown checked jacket over a green striped shirt. On the right Sharon Bashford has shoulder-length dark brown hair. She wears glasses and a white shirt with black stripes.
Andrew and Sharon Bashford say they still don't know how their son died

Josh's dad, Andrew Bashford, said his family felt they were treated like a "non-entity" by the court system.

He said: "I think the victim's families are largely forgotten in all this, and I think they should be at the forefront of everyone's thoughts.

"It needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so they can try to move on without causing more anguish and stress."

Billy Bashford, Josh's younger brother, said being repeatedly let down had been "traumatising".

He said: "It feels like we're in a place where we have no power. You get prepared to find out what happened - to get justice - you sort out time off work, and childcare, only to be told it won't happen. It's very hard mentally.

"You do lose faith in the justice system. Two people are gone and nothing's been done. It's destroyed us."

Billy Bashford has short blond hair and a goatee beard. He wears a camel-coloured polo shirt.
Josh Bashford's younger brother Billy said he has "lost faith" in the justice system

The couple were described as "amazing parents" to their four young children by their families after their deaths.

In April, Chris Ward, the MP for Brighton & Kemptown and Peacehaven, raised the case in Parliament, and called for trials to be conducted more promptly.

Ministry of Justice figures show there were now 75,000 crown court cases waiting to be heard, with the growing backlog meaning new cases are now being planned for 2029.

In a statement it acknowledged many cases taking far too long to go to trial.

The statement added: "That's why we've asked Sir Brian Leveson to propose once-in-a-generation reform to address the outstanding backlog in our courts.

"Alongside this we're also providing funding for a record level of sitting days this financial year, raising national court capacity to deliver swifter justice for victims."

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