Martin: 'I'm not a shooting man'

Tony Martin said he felt vulnerable in his own home

Tony Martin has told students in Oxford that he was "not a shooting man" and that the burglar he killed did not deserve to die.

The farmer served two-thirds of a five-year prison sentence for wounding burglar Brendan Fearon and killing his accomplice, 16-year-old Fred Barras, at his Norfolk home in 1999.

His case became the focus of a national debate about people's rights to defend their homes from intruders.

During an appearance at Oxford Union's debating society on Monday night Mr Martin faced questions from students about the shooting.

You shouldn't have to fear being in your own home or have to fear the law Tony Martin

There were gasps in the packed debating hall when, in reply to a question about why he had an unlicensed firearm, the 58-year-old said: "I am not a shooting man."

"I myself do not enjoy shooting. But I have had access to guns all my life," he said.

He also denied feeling regret about the shooting.

"I do not really see how I can be responsible for the actions of other people.

"You shouldn't have to fear being in your own home or have to fear the law.

I did not mean to shoot anybody Tony Martin

"I felt very vulnerable that evening. I couldn't understand why they were breaking into the house when they knew I was in there.

"I just happened to be in my own house, is that a crime?"

Protest

During more than an hour's questioning, he was asked if Fred Barras had deserved to die, and replied: "No."

But when asked if that meant that it was right that he should have been punished with jail, Martin said "No" again.

When asked if he lay in wait for the burglars, he said: "I did not mean to shoot anybody."

Up to 20 demonstrators carrying "Life not Land" placards gathered outside the gates of the Union to protest against the decision to invite Mr Martin.