Known as a recluse to the public, Tony Martin lived in the shadow of a conviction for fatally shooting a teenage burglar.
However, to Jacqueline Wadsley and her family, he was a cherished companion, enjoying shared meals, wine, and gardening moments. I had several encounters with Martin at his Bleak House farm estate, the location of the 1999 incident involving the killing of Fred Barass, 16, which brought him into the public eye.
Despite more than two decades passing since the murder conviction was reduced to manslaughter, Martin remained fixated on proving his innocence, convinced of being framed by a corrupt legal system. His conversations were often disorganized, solely centered on vindicating himself and seeking accountability from the “corrupt” establishment that he believed had wronged him.
Prior to the shooting incident involving Fred and Brendan Fearon, Martin was depicted as an unconventional individual, spending his days collecting antiques and tending to his apple orchard. He maintained a vigilant stance against burglars, particularly harboring animosity towards travelers.
While many in the village of Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, perceived him as harmless, some steered clear of his run-down residence, aptly named Bleak House. There, Martin resided in disarray and self-imposed seclusion, accompanied by his three rottweilers, Otto, Bruno, and Daniel.
Reportedly, he slept with his boots on and kept a shotgun by his bedside, safeguarding his antique collection from potential thieves. Born into a prosperous farming family, Martin, during his trial, was described as engaging in solitary hobbies like model-building. Later in life, he developed a fondness for teddy bears, even bringing one to court during his murder trial.
Leaving school at 17, Martin traveled extensively before inheriting Bleak House from his relatives. Despite financial constraints leading to the estate’s deterioration, he sustained himself through the orchard’s produce. Fearful of burglaries, Martin kept firearms within reach, leading to sporadic instances of their use.
He recounted catching a burglar in the act and experiencing property theft over the years. In previous incidents, he brandished a World War I revolver at a friend’s residence in 1976 and damaged property with a shotgun during a dispute at his brother’s house in 1987.
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