Damages sought over murdered burglar

Tony Martin: His convictions sparked huge public debate

The family of the teenage burglar murdered by Norfolk farmer Tony Martin is to seek compensation for his death.

Fred Barras, a convicted thief, was 16 when he was shot dead by Martin as he broke into the farmer's remote Norfolk home with two other men.

Martin, 55, was found guilty in April of murdering Barras and wounding his accomplice, Brendan Fearon, 30, with a shotgun.

Martin's solicitor, Nick Makin, condemned the Barras family's bid to claim damages.

There is something wrong and perverse with our legal system that it permits this

Nick Makin
Tony Martin's solicitor

"It is appalling that the family of someone who has a criminal record for burglary and assault should attempt to claim any damages of criminal injury when he was shot while burgling the dwelling of an innocent person," he told the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

"It is also appalling that they may get legal aid while his victim is in prison and patently unable to work and equally cannot get legal aid.

'Perverse' legal system

"There is something wrong and perverse with our legal system that it permits this."

Mary Dolan, the 68-year-old grandmother of Barras, said it was unfair that Martin "still had his money" after killing her grandson.

She said: "His mother has only got what she gets from her benefit and if Fred was still here he would be in a job now and bringing more money into the house.

Fred Barras: Shot and killed by the Norfolk farmer

"He would not have been a thief forever".

Ellen Barras, 45, and Mrs Dolan live on state benefits and could qualify for legal aid to fund their application for compensation.

Loner Martin has been told he will have to sell his home, Bleak Farm, to fund an upcoming appeal against his conviction.

He does not qualify for legal aid because he owns his house and hundreds of acres of land attached to it.

The Martin case sparked a national debate about how far people had the right to defend themselves and their property from burglars.

Martin shot Barras after he broke into his rundown farmhouse Bleak House, in Emneth Hungate, near Emneth, Norfolk.

Ellen Barras: Could qualify for legal aid

He was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted by a 10-2 majority after an eight-day trial at Norwich Crown Court.

He was also convicted of wounding Fearon, also of Newark, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The Barras family should find out within coming weeks if its legal aid application has been successful.