Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer who gained national attention after fatally shooting a teenage burglar in 1999, has died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. He was 80 years old.
According to sources at Martin passed away on February 2, 2025, after suffering a stroke. His death marks the end of a life that sparked intense debate about homeowners’ rights to self-defence in Britain.
The Controversial Shooting That Changed Martin’s Life
The incident that thrust Martin into the national spotlight occurred on August 20, 1999, when he confronted two burglars at his isolated farmhouse, Bleak House, in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk. Using an unlicensed pump-action Winchester shotgun, Martin shot and killed 16-year-old Fred Barras and wounded his accomplice, 29-year-old Brendon Fearon.
Legal Proceedings and Public Response
Martin’s subsequent murder conviction, later reduced to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, sparked widespread public debate. He served three years in prison, with his case becoming a rallying point for advocates of stronger property rights and self-defence laws.
Legacy and Impact on Self-Defence Laws
Martin’s case continues to influence discussions about homeowners’ rights and self-defence legislation in the UK. According to legal experts at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Criminology, the case helped shape subsequent legal reforms addressing home defence rights.
