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| Tony Martin confronts thieves at his Emneth Hungate farm | Tony Martin confronts thieves at his Emneth Hungate farm |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A farmer who killed a teenage burglar at his home in Norfolk 13 years ago has been targeted by intruders again. | A farmer who killed a teenage burglar at his home in Norfolk 13 years ago has been targeted by intruders again. |
| Tony Martin, who was jailed in 2000 for shooting Fred Barras at Emneth Hungate, said two men tried to steal a pair of £90 batteries from his barn. | Tony Martin, who was jailed in 2000 for shooting Fred Barras at Emneth Hungate, said two men tried to steal a pair of £90 batteries from his barn. |
| He said he was frustrated but decided not to take any action against them for fear of going back to jail. | |
| Norfolk Police confirmed they had been called to reports of an attempted burglary at Mr Martin's farm. | Norfolk Police confirmed they had been called to reports of an attempted burglary at Mr Martin's farm. |
| The 67-year-old said he was inspecting the outbuildings at his farm at about 13:20 BST on Thursday when he saw two vans parked outside. | The 67-year-old said he was inspecting the outbuildings at his farm at about 13:20 BST on Thursday when he saw two vans parked outside. |
| One of the men was carrying two tractor batteries, which he dropped, smashing one of them. The two men then got into the vans, Mr Martin said. | One of the men was carrying two tractor batteries, which he dropped, smashing one of them. The two men then got into the vans, Mr Martin said. |
| 'Hand-to-hand contact' | 'Hand-to-hand contact' |
| "I was almost in hand-to-hand contact with this person yesterday," Mr Martin said. | "I was almost in hand-to-hand contact with this person yesterday," Mr Martin said. |
| "But if you don't let them go, what are you to do? | "But if you don't let them go, what are you to do? |
| "Had I stood in front of the vehicle he would have run me over. | "Had I stood in front of the vehicle he would have run me over. |
| "I could have jumped in the back of the van, but you don't know where you're going to end up - as soon as you start doing things like that you incriminate yourself. | |
| "I couldn't face going through all that again. | |
| "I haven't changed my views about what happened in 1999 but the whole experience has made me lose faith in the system and I didn't want to be made out as the criminal again. | |
| "It isn't the first time it's happened since I've been out of prison - it's happened two or three times," he added. | |
| Mr Martin, who no longer has a gun licence, was released from prison in 2003 after his murder conviction was reduced to manslaughter. He also wounded 29-year-old Brendan Fearon in the same incident. | Mr Martin, who no longer has a gun licence, was released from prison in 2003 after his murder conviction was reduced to manslaughter. He also wounded 29-year-old Brendan Fearon in the same incident. |
| The case provoked a national debate about the measures homeowners can take to defend their property. | |
| In October last year, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said householders who react with force when confronted by burglars would get more legal protection. | In October last year, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said householders who react with force when confronted by burglars would get more legal protection. |
| He said "grossly disproportionate" force would still be against the law in England and Wales, but the bar would be higher than the current "proportionate" force test. | He said "grossly disproportionate" force would still be against the law in England and Wales, but the bar would be higher than the current "proportionate" force test. |