Tony Martin, whose case ignited a national conversation when he fatally shot a teenager on his agricultural property, has passed away at the age of 80.
Raised on a prosperous family’s farm in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, his mother Hilary recalled in 2000 that “there were always firearms” around them.
“His father enjoyed shooting and was quite skilled. However, Tony never really embraced shooting. He wasn’t keen on the idea of taking a life,” she explained.
On August 20, 1999, Mr. Martin discharged his shotgun thrice from the staircase, resulting in the death of 16-year-old burglar Fred Barras and injuring his accomplice Brendon Fearon, then aged 29, as they attempted to unlawfully enter his Norfolk farmhouse.
The night prior, Barras had boasted to his peers in Newark, Nottinghamshire, about embarking on his first “major job.”
According to his mother Ellen, he had “involved himself with the wrong crowd,” just after she had prepared chicken and chips for his dinner that evening.
“I doubt I will ever find happiness again,” she expressed later.
The incident at Bleak House was contentious, prompting a national discussion regarding whether it stemmed from the premeditated actions of a violent individual or was an act of rightful self-defence.
He contended that he was safeguarding himself and his somewhat derelict residence, where he lived in solitude surrounded by antiques and vast expanses of land. The prosecution argued that he had been lying in wait for the intruders.
Initially sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in April 2000, he was released three years later when the charge was reduced to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
Mr. Martin had been diagnosed with a paranoid personality disorder.
His mother asserted, “He did not possess a violent temperament. I have never known him to be involved in conflicts. He was a pleasant and affable young man.”
“I believe he was the type of person who would defend himself, yet he was never aggressive,” she added.
Characterized as “highly eccentric” by his companion Malcolm Starr, Mr. Martin seemingly attempted to “maintain a semblance of normality” following his release.
“Whatever normal meant to Tony,” Starr reflected. “I think he mostly subcontracted the farming work.”
“He did not engage in much of it personally, but he enjoyed socializing. He had a keen interest in history and was fond of history literature,” he stated.
In 2013, a near-replica of the 1999 shooting occurred when he spotted a man attempting to steal car batteries while visiting his shed.
“There were arms inside the shed, so if I had wanted to confront him, I could have,” he remarked.
“I regretted not doing so, but after everything I had endured in the past, I simply couldn’t face the same troubles again,” he added.
Three years later, Mr. Martin was detained on suspicion of possessing an illegal firearm after law enforcement searched his residence. However, authorities later announced that no further action would be taken against him.
On February 2, he passed away after suffering a stroke in December, occurring more than 25 years post the incident that led to the unfortunate death of a young man.
Barras had a record of 29 prior convictions, mainly for theft and fraud, and had been sentenced to two months in a youth offender’s institute for assaulting a police officer.
Just hours before his demise, he had been released on bail following allegations of stealing outdoor furniture.
However, his family held the belief that “he wouldn’t have continued a life of crime indefinitely,” and that he would have been capable of contributing positively to his family through employment, had he still been alive.
In 2000, Barras’ grandmother Mary Dolan announced their intention to sue Mr. Martin for loss of earnings, asserting, “It’s unjust that the farmer has obtained all the compensation while he is the one who took Fred away.”
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