Norfolk farmer charged with murder
24 August 1999
Norfolk farmer charged with murder
THE Norfolk farmer questioned by police following the shooting of a 16-year-old youth late last Friday has been charged with murder.
Tony Martin, a 54-year-old farmer, is also charged with wounding another man with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The two victims were shot while trying to burgle Mr Martins isolated farmhouse at Emneth, near Wisbech.
The dead teenager was a known burglar who had been arrested for theft just two days before he died.
He suffered gunshot wounds to his back and legs during the abortive raid, just before midnight on Friday and is believed to have bled to death.
A third man has been arrested on suspicion of burglary at the property.
The National Farmers Union said rural crime had increased sevenfold in the past decade with remote areas being targeted by travelling criminals from nearby towns.
East Anglia, where the shooting occurred, had the steepest rise in crime in England last year – over 16%.
Mr Martins neighbours have rallied to his defence with several offers to cover his wheat harvest.
He has also received wide support from other farmers outside of the region, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.
- Farmer held after youth shot dead, FWi, yesterday (23 August, 1999)
- The Times 24/08/99 page 3
- The Independent 24/08/99 page 4
- The Guardian 24/08/99 page 3
- The Daily Telegraph 24/08/99 page 1, page 2, page 16
- The Herald 24/08/99 page 2