Tony Martin, Eccentric Farmer Who Killed Teen Burglar, Passes Away at 80
Tony Martin, the farmer who shot a teenage burglar, has died at 80, reigniting discussions on self-defense laws in the UK.
Tony Martin, Fred Barras, Norfolk, UK, Burglary
Norfolk: Tony Martin, the farmer known for shooting a teenage burglar, has died. He was 80 years old. His actions in 1999 sparked a national debate about self-defense laws in the UK.
Martin grew up on a wealthy farm in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. His mother mentioned that guns were always around, but he never liked shooting. He didn’t want to kill anyone.
On August 20, 1999, Martin shot 16-year-old Fred Barras as he broke into his farmhouse. Barras was with another man, Brendon Fearon, who was injured in the incident. Barras had been bragging about his plans to commit a burglary the night before.
The shooting led to a big controversy. Some saw Martin as a violent eccentric, while others believed he was defending himself. He claimed he was protecting his home, which was in disrepair and filled with antiques.
Initially convicted of murder, Martin was sentenced to life in prison. He was released three years later when his charge was reduced to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. He had a diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder.
After his release, Martin tried to live a normal life. Friends described him as eccentric but friendly. He enjoyed meeting people and had a passion for history.
In 2013, Martin faced a similar situation when he saw someone trying to steal from his shed. He had weapons inside but chose not to confront the thief. He didn’t want to deal with the hassle again.
In 2016, police searched his home for an illegal firearm but took no further action. Martin passed away from a stroke on February 2, more than 25 years after the shooting incident.
Barras had a troubled past with multiple convictions. His family believed he could have turned his life around if he had lived. They even considered suing Martin for loss of income after Barras’s death.