Tony Martin jailed for life for killing burglar in 1999 calls for Richard Osborn-Brooks to be freed

A farmer who was jailed for life for shooting a burglar dead has called for a pensioner arrested for the same thing to be released without charge.

Tony Martin, 73, killed Fred Barras, 16, after he and Brendon Fearon, 29, broke into his house in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk in August 1999.  

Barras died of his gunshot wounds and Fearon was blasted in the legs after the notorious shooting, which saw Martin sentenced to life in prison.

Eventually he appealed his sentence and got it reduced to three years for manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. 

After fellow pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks, 73, was arrested on suspicion of murdering an intruder at his south London home this week, Martin has been quick to defend him.

Tony Martin (pictured), 73, killed Fred Barras, 16, after he and Brendon Fearon, 29, broke into his house in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk in August 1999

He told the Daily Mirror: ‘I would have done the same thing if I was in Richard’s situation. 

‘Richard is not a criminal, he’s just a very unlucky man to be caught up in the muck of other people and legislation.

‘The same thing happened to me 20 years ago so I can understand how it ended up the way it did.’ 

Mr Martin has lived at a secret address since his release.  

After fellow pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks, 73, was arrested on suspicion of murdering an intruder at his south London home this week, Martin has been quick to defend him

After fellow pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks, 73, was arrested on suspicion of murdering an intruder at his south London home this week, Martin has been quick to defend him

Homeowner Mr Osborn-Brooks, was upstairs asleep with his wife when he was woken by two men breaking into his suburban home in Hither Green, south-east London in the early hours of Wednesday. 

One, 38, was armed with a screwdriver, but was left with stab wounds to the chest after a struggle ensued between him and the pensioner inside the house. He later collapsed and died in hospital.

Mr Osborn-Brooks has been arrested on suspicion of the 38-year-old’s murder.

There have been multiple calls for him to be freed from neighbours and politicians.   

Homeowner Mr Osborn-Brooks (pictured), was upstairs asleep with his wife when he was woken by two men breaking into his suburban home in Hither Green, south-east London

Homeowner Mr Osborn-Brooks (pictured), was upstairs asleep with his wife when he was woken by two men breaking into his suburban home in Hither Green, south-east London



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