Monster mum who murdered teen sons was ‘evil from birth’ and could’ve been stopped by social workers, says brother
A MONSTER mum who slaughtered her two sons was “evil from birth” but could have been stopped by social services, her brother has claimed.
Martyn Barrass, 34, described his sister Sarah as an “evil psychopath” who was drawn, along with her co-killer Brandon Machin, into an attraction with the grotesque and gruesome.
The couple are said to have watched endless horror movies, killed pet mice and eventually focused their brutality on Barrass’ own sons Tristan, 13, and Blake, 14.
The teenage boys were strangled to death at their home in Sheffield in May by their mum Sarah Barrass, 35, with help from family member Machin, 37.
Barrass had posted a disturbing quote from horror writer Stephen King onto her Facebook page that said: “Murder is like potato chips; you can't stop with just one” in July last year.
Both Barrass and Machin pleaded guilty to murdering the boys and are facing life sentences.
“I witnessed Brandon’s violence towards Blake years ago and I knew something wasn’t right. I visited them when Tristan was still in his pushchair and Blake was only a toddler – he must have been three or four.
"We were out walking when Brandon grabbed Blake’s arm really roughly and dragged him across the floor.
"It was enough to know something wasn’t right, so I called social services and asked them to look into it. If they had, the boys might still be here today.”
He says that he made three calls to social services in around 2009 or 2010 but says he felt as if he was “ignored”.
'IGNORED'
It is claimed Barrass tried to poison four of her six children the day before Tristan and Blake died.
An attempt to drown another child is also said to have failed.
On the day of the two boys’ death the other four children, who are all under 13 cannot be named for legal reasons, were taken to hospital and released later that day.
Martyn said that when he heard Barrass and Machin had been arrested and charged he felt “disgusted”.
He added: “Blake and Tristan were polite, kind-hearted lads. It’s a tragic waste of life.”
In one disturbing memory he recalled Barrass and Machin killing pet mice simply for their own entertainment.
Blake and Tristan were polite, kind-hearted lads. It’s a tragic waste of life
Martyn Barrass
He went to see what was going on when he heard his sister Donna, who has since died, screaming.
Martyn said he saw the pair chasing the pet mice and stamping on them to kill them and laughing as they did it.
On another occasion he said his sister pushed a girl out of a tree who injured her arm when she hit the ground.
He described his sister as being quiet and shy and protective of her seven siblings until she fell under the spell of Machin and the two became as “thick as thieves”.
Martyn admitted he was terrified of Machin, who once turned him upside down and rammed him head first into the floor.
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.
No details were given in court about what happened to the children inside the house in the Shiregreen area of Sheffield on May 24 and May 25 this year.
They are due to be sentenced on November 12.
A case review into the deaths of the two boys is also set to take place.
John Macilwraith, Executive Director of People Services at Sheffield City Council, said: “We have initiated the review but detailed work will start once the legal process has completed. It is important we do not compromise any court proceedings.”