WHERE MUM STRANGLED 2 SONS THEY WERE EVIL FROM BIRTH
the tree. I knew Brandon was capable of murder and I knew she was. But I never thought she’d kill her own kids.”
Martyn is one of eight siblings – by four fathers – who were raised by a single mum in Sheffield. They spent time in care before being returned home. He goes on: “It was chaotic, there were always people in and out, drinking, smoking weed. We could go to bed when we wanted, get up when we wanted, not go to school.”
Martyn says Barrass was a quiet, shy sister and protective of her siblings until falling under the influence of Machin.
He says: “Once her and Brandon got close, she changed. She became a bully. As soon as he came, there was a bond. They would always be together and were thick as thieves. Brandon once beat someone up at school for no reason – just to impress Sarah. Brandon would torment me. One day at the park Brandon called me over, turned me upside down and rammed me head first into the floor.
“He terrified me. He was violent and would punch people for no reason and get into fights. Sarah was his sidekick, they were always whispering together.”
In the months before the murders, Sarah posted a Facebook quote from horror writer Stephen King that said: “Murder is like potato chips; you can’t stop with just one.”
She also uploaded a chilling image of the Grim Reaper with the caption “coming for you...”
Martyn reveals how she and Machin “loved horror movies with vampires, blood and gore”, adding: “They liked violent killer Freddy Krueger and repeatedly watched A Nightmare on Elm Street.”
Barrass and Machin admitted two counts of murder, five of attempted murder and one of conspiracy to murder when they appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on September 27. They will be sentenced on November 12.
Meanwhile, a serious case review ev ew is s to be held into the deaths ths of
Tristan and Blake. John hn Macilwraith, Executive ve Director of People e Services at Sheffield City Council, said: “We have initiated the review but detailed work will start t once the legal process has as completed. It is important ant we do not compromise e any court proceedings.”
Councillor Jackie Drayton said the review would be commissioned by the Safeguarding Children Board, adding:
“All partners will be coming together to understand, review and reflect on exactly what happened and why.”
But Martyn will never understand how his s wa warnings gs w went unheeded. He adds: “Social services s have been aware of o our family since before Sa Sarah had kids. They don’t se seem to have done the job t they could have done or should have done. That’s w what I’m struggling to und derstand. The main people to blame are Sarah and Br Brandon. But social services cou could have prevented it, could have stopped it. This will haunt us forever.”
Voice of the Sunday People: P14