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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Murderer 'on bail during attack' | Murderer 'on bail during attack' |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A man jailed for life for murdering an elderly couple at their Kent home was on bail for robbery at the time of the attack, police have said. | A man jailed for life for murdering an elderly couple at their Kent home was on bail for robbery at the time of the attack, police have said. |
| Brett Clifton, 22, of Beckett Street, Faversham, signed on at a police station hours before the attack at the couple's house on 21 January. | Brett Clifton, 22, of Beckett Street, Faversham, signed on at a police station hours before the attack at the couple's house on 21 January. |
| The bodies of Terry Martin, 72, and his wife Vera, 78, were found four days later by a member of their family. | The bodies of Terry Martin, 72, and his wife Vera, 78, were found four days later by a member of their family. |
| Kent Police were unable to confirm at what stage Clifton was released. | Kent Police were unable to confirm at what stage Clifton was released. |
| The 22-year-old beat, kicked, stamped, punched and stabbed the Martins, who had been married for 40 years. | The 22-year-old beat, kicked, stamped, punched and stabbed the Martins, who had been married for 40 years. |
| A post-mortem examination found they had died from multiple injuries. | A post-mortem examination found they had died from multiple injuries. |
| The judge at Maidstone Crown Court told Clifton on Thursday that he would serve a minimum of 30 years. | |
| Labourer Clifton, who was a friend of the family and had carried out building and repairs at the couple's house, was unanimously convicted on two counts of murder. | Labourer Clifton, who was a friend of the family and had carried out building and repairs at the couple's house, was unanimously convicted on two counts of murder. |
| You murdered two people whose lives were blameless and who trusted you Judge Anne Rafferty Skylight held key to conviction | You murdered two people whose lives were blameless and who trusted you Judge Anne Rafferty Skylight held key to conviction |
| The court had heard Terry and Vera Martin were murdered on 21 January after Clifton entered their terraced home through a skylight at the back of their house. | The court had heard Terry and Vera Martin were murdered on 21 January after Clifton entered their terraced home through a skylight at the back of their house. |
| When the couple put up a struggle, Clifton violently attacked them before leaving the house and driving away in their car. | When the couple put up a struggle, Clifton violently attacked them before leaving the house and driving away in their car. |
| He also stole money, building society books and a small amount of jewellery from their home and their vehicle was found burning in a nearby wood on the following Monday. | He also stole money, building society books and a small amount of jewellery from their home and their vehicle was found burning in a nearby wood on the following Monday. |
| The couple were discovered on 25 January when a relative called at their house to check on them. She found their bodies, which had multiple injuries, in the lounge and contacted the police. | The couple were discovered on 25 January when a relative called at their house to check on them. She found their bodies, which had multiple injuries, in the lounge and contacted the police. |
| Clifton was arrested within 48 hours of the bodies being found. | Clifton was arrested within 48 hours of the bodies being found. |
| Terry and Vera Martin died at their home in Faversham | Terry and Vera Martin died at their home in Faversham |
| Sentencing him to life imprisonment, Judge Anne Rafferty said the two murders were "done for gain". | Sentencing him to life imprisonment, Judge Anne Rafferty said the two murders were "done for gain". |
| She added that the minimum sentence of 30 years was "arguably aggravated by the suffering you inflicted upon two elderly people whom you left to die. Each was small and frail". | She added that the minimum sentence of 30 years was "arguably aggravated by the suffering you inflicted upon two elderly people whom you left to die. Each was small and frail". |
| The judge told Clifton he now had a criminal record "which sets out your disregard for anyone and any opinion but yourself and your own. | The judge told Clifton he now had a criminal record "which sets out your disregard for anyone and any opinion but yourself and your own. |
| She said: "You murdered two people whose lives were blameless and who trusted you. They had all the standards and decency you would mock. | She said: "You murdered two people whose lives were blameless and who trusted you. They had all the standards and decency you would mock. |
| "The evidence against you was overwhelming and you lacked the guts to acknowledge that. You are callous, spineless and wicked." | "The evidence against you was overwhelming and you lacked the guts to acknowledge that. You are callous, spineless and wicked." |
| Outside the court, Mr Martin's cousin, Sherree Pennell, said: "This last nine months has been a nightmare... it's been heartbreaking. | Outside the court, Mr Martin's cousin, Sherree Pennell, said: "This last nine months has been a nightmare... it's been heartbreaking. |
| "We have lost a loving, frail couple that wouldn't have hurt a fly. He's an animal." | "We have lost a loving, frail couple that wouldn't have hurt a fly. He's an animal." |
| She added: "We find it impossible to imagine their frantic defenceless struggle to survive the horrific attacks by someone they knew." | She added: "We find it impossible to imagine their frantic defenceless struggle to survive the horrific attacks by someone they knew." |