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Couple's killer jailed for life Couple's killer jailed for life
(about 1 hour later)
A man has been jailed for life after being convicted of murdering an elderly couple at their Kent home.A man has been jailed for life after being convicted of murdering an elderly couple at their Kent home.
The bodies of Terry Martin, 72, and his wife Vera, 78, were found at their house in Abbey Street, Faversham, in January by a member of their family.The bodies of Terry Martin, 72, and his wife Vera, 78, were found at their house in Abbey Street, Faversham, in January by a member of their family.
A post-mortem examination found they had died from multiple injuries.A post-mortem examination found they had died from multiple injuries.
Brett Clifton, 22, of Beckett Street, Faversham, was ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years by Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday. The judge at Maidstone Crown Court told Brett Clifton, 22, of Beckett Street, Faversham, he would serve a minimum of 30 years.
The jury unanimously convicted labourer Clifton 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.
When sentencing him to life imprisonment Judge Anne Rafferty said the two murders were "done for gain". You murdered two people whose lives were blameless and who trusted you Judge Anne Rafferty href="/1/hi/england/6062064.stm" class="">Skylight held key to conviction
You murdered two people whose lives were blameless and who trusted you. They had all the standards and decency you would mock... You are callous, spineless and wicked Judge Anne Rafferty href="/1/hi/england/6062064.stm" class="">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.
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.
"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."
Burning car
Terry and Vera Martin were mudered on 21 January after Clifton entered their terraced home through a skylight at the back of their house.
Terry and Vera Martin died at their home in Faversham
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.
Clifton also stole money, building society books and a small amount of jewellery from their home. 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 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 in the lounge with multiple injuries 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
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".
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.
"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.
"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."