The Interrogation of Tony Martin

Man: There is all the difference in the world

between the career criminal

who sets out deliberately to burgle a house

and a terrified homeowner

who acts to protect himself and his home.

Reporter: Once at the home of the farmer Tony Martin

the pair broke into the property,

and very quickly, the gunshots began.

Reporter #2: He did shoot the teenage boy,

but to many people, he did nothing more

than exercise the right to protect his property.

Man #2: I reckon they should just forget the law

and just let people take it into their own hands nowadays

'cause it's the only way it's gonna work.

Man #3: The law says, as in any other case

where you claim self-defense, you must act reasonably.

Guard: Mr. Martin.

Ah.

Mr. Martin, come in. Have a seat.

The time is 13:54.

I'm Detective Constable Peters,

and my colleague interviewing with me is...

Detective Sergeant Newton.

Right. Mr. Martin, can you introduce yourself

by giving your full name and date of birth, please?

My name is Anthony Edward Martin,

and I was born on the 16th of December, 1944.

At the moment, you have declined

to have a legal representative.Yes.

Peters: Is there any reason why you don't want to have

a solicitor at this time?

I've had a horrendous experience.

Are you okay now?

Right. Well, I've got to caution you, Mr. Martin.

The caution is as follows.

You do not have to say anything.

But it may harm your defense

if you do not mention when questioned

something which you later rely on in court.

Anything you say may be given in evidence.

Do you understand the caution? -Yes.

Can you just sign this form

to say that you consent to being interviewed

without the presence of a solicitor, just here?

Look.

Thanks very much, Mr. Martin.

Now, the offense for which you've been arrested

is attempted murder.

What, in your words, happened yesterday?

I really can't tell you.

Are you saying your memory is gone?

Why is it you can't tell us?

What do you remember about the incident?

I really can't tell you.

It's an absolute nightmare.

It's -- I just --

Is it because you don't want to tell us, Mr. Martin?

I was asleep, and I heard a noise.

And I've heard so many noises over the years

that, really, I just don't want to ponder on it at the moment.

It's so horrendous.

You're so vulnerable.

There is nobody to help you.

Whereabouts were you asleep?

You're on your own.

I was up in the bedroom.

Where did you hear the noises?

I don't know.

I just live in one room.

I've never been so afraid in all my life.

I hate to admit it.

I don't know whether it's a failing to say that,

but I really...

absolutely terrified.

I just don't wish to discuss it any more today.

Thank you very much.

I just want...

I just want solace.

I wanted it for so long.

I can't get any peace.

Well, can you describe where you live, please?

I live at a place called Bleak House.

I live down a pea-gravel drive with lime trees.

Okay. So we've established that

you were upstairs having a sleep.

I'd gone to bed for the night.

The noise you heard downstairs inside the house --

what do you do next?

I really don't want to talk about it.

Have you got a shotgun?

I don't want to talk about it anymore.

Well, I mean, that's not talking about it.

I mean, that -- that's a simple question.

You either have or have not got a shotgun.

I just -- I just don't want to talk about it anymore today.

See, we need some answers to our questions

because from our inquiries so far,

we believe you were responsible

for shooting a man by the name of...

Brendon Fearon.

Well?

Did you shoot anybody last night?

What if I were to put it to you

that you said to, uh, Paul Leet,

"They were in my house.

I don't know who they were,

but they had pulled a window out"?

Was that right?

Well, I don't really know.

When you say, "they," what do you mean?

We've only got one man injured.

Well, there were people talking.

How many?

I don't know. There was more than one.

Inside the house or outside the house?

Inside the house.

You told Paul Leet

you shot somebody last night.

You shot at them.

All we want to know is, what did you use to shoot at them?

Where were them, and why did you shoot at them?

That's what we want to know

because you're the person with a gun pulling the trigger.

We just need to know your account

of what occurred yesterday that resulted in a man

staggering to the Leets' with serious shotgun wounds.

You also, I believe, said,

"If the judges lock them up,

they wouldn't have to lock me up for what I did."

Well, I don't know what I did say.

I think you're being slightly evasive here, Mr. Martin.

I am not being evasive about anything. I don't --

Well, you're being selective, aren't you?

Well, no. I don't even know what you're talking about,

about being selective.

You are, because you're being selective

about what you care to remember

and who you care to remember it to.

You're prepared to talk to Paul Leet about this matter,

but you are not prepared to talk to us.

My life's a nightmare.

I've had a lot of nightmares in my life.

I've had a lot of things pull me right down,

but I tell you, this is something...

Well, tell us about this.

I just can't handle it.

I'd just rather go back to my cell and read Churchill.

Mr. Martin, would you like to speak to a solicitor?

I just want some peace. I'm very tired.

Mr. Martin, you have --

That's the end of this conversation.

I don't want to relive it.

Well, at some stage, you're gonna have to relive it.

No, no. I don't have to do anything.

I told you before, I was terrified.

Terrified about what?I can't tell you that now

'cause you'll turn it and twist it.

We won't twist anything.

We're -- we're not here to judge.

We're here to gather evidence and let somebody else decide.

Take me to Norwich Prison. Get rid of me, out of the way.

-Mr. Martin! -I wish I was in China.

They'd put a bullet in my bloody head,

and I'll be finished, out the way.

I'm finished. This conversation is finished.

May I please go back to the cell?

You will shortly.