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| Farmer recalls night of killing | Farmer recalls night of killing |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| By Paul Moseley BBC News, Norwich Tony Martin no longer lives in his former home, Bleak House | By Paul Moseley BBC News, Norwich Tony Martin no longer lives in his former home, Bleak House |
| Ten years ago this week, Tony Martin shot and killed a teenager who broke into his remote farmhouse on the Norfolk-Cambridgeshire border. BBC Radio Norfolk's Paul Moseley spoke to Martin who reflected on the events of a decade ago. | |
| On 20 August 1999, two burglars broke into Tony Martin's remote farm house at Emneth Hungate. | On 20 August 1999, two burglars broke into Tony Martin's remote farm house at Emneth Hungate. |
| The then 54-year-old farmer's home, known as Bleak House, had been broken into several times before. | The then 54-year-old farmer's home, known as Bleak House, had been broken into several times before. |
| Brendon Fearon, who was 29, and 16-year-old Fred Barras thought it was empty when they entered. | Brendon Fearon, who was 29, and 16-year-old Fred Barras thought it was empty when they entered. |
| But Martin opened fire on them with his unlicensed pump-action shotgun. | But Martin opened fire on them with his unlicensed pump-action shotgun. |
| Despite being wounded Fearon managed to escape - Barras also got out, but his injuries were more severe and his body was later found in the grounds of Bleak House. | Despite being wounded Fearon managed to escape - Barras also got out, but his injuries were more severe and his body was later found in the grounds of Bleak House. |
| "When I had that horrific experience I actually closed down, completely switched off," said Martin, recalling the night. | "When I had that horrific experience I actually closed down, completely switched off," said Martin, recalling the night. |
| "I probably switched off because basically I might have gone and blown my brains out." | "I probably switched off because basically I might have gone and blown my brains out." |
| Despite that Martin said he did not care that he took the life of a minor. | Despite that Martin said he did not care that he took the life of a minor. |
| He said: "Effectively, as soon as I pulled that trigger he was a dead man, he was gone. Shame really as I'd never used that gun before. | He said: "Effectively, as soon as I pulled that trigger he was a dead man, he was gone. Shame really as I'd never used that gun before. |
| "I really don't give it a second thought." | "I really don't give it a second thought." |
| Martin was found guilty of murder in 2000, but his conviction was reduced on appeal to manslaughter and he was released in 2003 after serving two-thirds of a five-year sentence. | Martin was found guilty of murder in 2000, but his conviction was reduced on appeal to manslaughter and he was released in 2003 after serving two-thirds of a five-year sentence. |
| Fearon was given a three-year sentence for conspiracy to burgle Martin's home. | Fearon was given a three-year sentence for conspiracy to burgle Martin's home. |
| Farmer Tony Martin says he has no regrets about the shooting | |
| Martin said: "People say that actually Fearon should have been locked up longer because basically, if you're talking about responsibilities to minors he must have known his age... some people are of the opinion that he was responsible for what happened." | Martin said: "People say that actually Fearon should have been locked up longer because basically, if you're talking about responsibilities to minors he must have known his age... some people are of the opinion that he was responsible for what happened." |
| But Martin's friend and spokesman Malcolm Starr believes the farmer does regret the killing. | But Martin's friend and spokesman Malcolm Starr believes the farmer does regret the killing. |
| He said: "Because Mr Martin suffers from Asperger's syndrome he can't show his feelings. | He said: "Because Mr Martin suffers from Asperger's syndrome he can't show his feelings. |
| "I think deep down he gets very, very upset when his feelings change and he's faced with the reality that someone did die at the end of a barrel of his shotgun. | "I think deep down he gets very, very upset when his feelings change and he's faced with the reality that someone did die at the end of a barrel of his shotgun. |
| "I think he does have remorse, but remorse that's much more deep down." | "I think he does have remorse, but remorse that's much more deep down." |
| Brendon Fearon escaped Bleak House despite being wounded | Brendon Fearon escaped Bleak House despite being wounded |
| Martin insists he should not have faced charges and says he has no faith in the police. | Martin insists he should not have faced charges and says he has no faith in the police. |
| "Even if it was true that I was waiting to shoot a burglar, you couldn't prove it." | "Even if it was true that I was waiting to shoot a burglar, you couldn't prove it." |
| He added: "I've always said... the biggest timewasters are thieves and policemen. I've never had any help from the police." | He added: "I've always said... the biggest timewasters are thieves and policemen. I've never had any help from the police." |
| He also refuses to say whether he still has a firearm. | He also refuses to say whether he still has a firearm. |
| When asked, he described the question as "loaded, leading, stupid". | When asked, he described the question as "loaded, leading, stupid". |
| Asked again, he replied: "No, but I keep my powder dry... it's a stupid question." | Asked again, he replied: "No, but I keep my powder dry... it's a stupid question." |
| Bleak House, already ramshackle in 1999, is no longer used as a home by Martin. | Bleak House, already ramshackle in 1999, is no longer used as a home by Martin. |
| The farmhouse, which sits in 200 acres of land, is boarded up with one side of the house almost completely covered by vegetation. | The farmhouse, which sits in 200 acres of land, is boarded up with one side of the house almost completely covered by vegetation. |
| "I don't live in Bleak House so I don't have to worry about coming home to a broken-in house," he said. | "I don't live in Bleak House so I don't have to worry about coming home to a broken-in house," he said. |
| "I'll tell you one thing I don't like about when they broke into my house, I suddenly had to start acting my age. | "I'll tell you one thing I don't like about when they broke into my house, I suddenly had to start acting my age. |
| "People can laugh but I'm probably a bit of a Peter Pan, I've never really grown up... because once you get over the line and grow up, there's no going back, and I think Peter Pan knew that." | "People can laugh but I'm probably a bit of a Peter Pan, I've never really grown up... because once you get over the line and grow up, there's no going back, and I think Peter Pan knew that." |