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The bodies of the father and daughter who were shot dead in the Plymouth massacre were carried out of a church in the same coffin today as mourners gathered for their funeral.
Three-year-old Sophie Martyn and her father Lee Martyn, 43, were among the five victims shot dead by 22-year-old Jake Davison in a 12-minute attack on the evening of August 12 in the Devon city.
Their funeral was held at the Church of St Andrews in Plymouth this morning, and among the floral tributes next to the coffin was a blue and white football with the Everton FC badge.
Davison killed his mother, Maxine Davison, 51, at her home in the Keyham area of Plymouth before going outside and shooting dead four others.
Mr Martyn and Sophie were killed in an attack witnessed by horrified onlookers as the father and adopted daughter walked their pet dog on Biddick Drive.
Davison then shot Stephen Washington, 59, in a nearby park, before shooting Kate Shepherd, 66, on Henderson Place. He then turned the gun on himself before armed officers reached him.
Sophie had been pushing a toy pram up the street accompanied by Mr Martyn, when they fell victim to Davison’s killing spree. Mr Martyn was shot as he attempted to protect his daughter, it later emerged.
A coffin carrying the bodies of both Sophie Martyn, 3, and her father Lee Martyn, 43, leaves a church in Plymouth today
A man carries a photograph of three-year-old Sophie Martyn and her father Lee Martyn from the church in Plymouth today
Pall bearers carry the single coffin containing Lee Martyn, 43, and his three-year-old daughter Sophie today
The funeral of Lee Martyn, 43, and his daughter Sophie takes place at the Church of St Andrews in Plymouth today
The funeral of Lee Martyn, 43, and his three-year-old daughter Sophie at the Church of St Andrews in Plymouth today
Sophie and her father Lee Martyn were taken to Derriford Hospital, where Mr Martyn’s wife Becky (right) works, but both died
Both were taken to the nearby Derriford Hospital, where Mr Martyn’s wife Becky works as an intensive care nurse, but both were pronounced dead. It is not known if Mrs Martyn was working at the time.
The couple had adopted Sophie two years ago following 15 months of passing checks. Mr and Mrs Martyn also shared another son.
Last month, Jess Morcom, a cousin of Mr Martyn, said the world would be a ‘much darker place’ without the pair.
She said: ‘I physically cannot believe I am writing these words and have re written this so many times struggling to find the right ones.
‘This is only something you hear about happening miles away from home, and you never ever think it will be your family.
Among the floral tributes next to the coffin today was a blue and white football with the Everton FC badge
People pay their respects as the cortege leaves the Church of St Andrews in Plymouth, Devon, this morning
The cortege leaves the Church of St Andrews in Plymouth today following the funeral of Sophie and her father Mr Martyn
The cortege leaves the Church of St Andrews today following the funeral of three-year-old Sophie Martyn and her father
People pay their respects as the cortege leaves the Church of St Andrews in Plymouth, Devon, this morning
‘When someone passes it’s often the norm to say how they were the world’s nicest person etc etc, but I really do mean it from the bottom of my heart when I say that that was Lee.
‘He had the kindest heart, would do anything for anybody and you only had to take one look at him to see how much he loved and adored his family, Bex and his children.
‘I was always so proud to be able to say you were my cousin. The world is going to be a much darker place without you in it.
‘Beautiful little Soph my darling, how truly blessed we all were to have seen you grow into such a beautiful funny and clever girl for the three years that we had with you.
‘My heart hurts so much thinking about how it should have been so many more. I will miss your cheekiness and your dancing the most.’
The cortege leaves the Church of St Andrews in Plymouth today following the funeral of three-year-old Sophie and her father
The cortege leaves the Church of St Andrews today following the funeral today for two of the Plymouth massacre victims
Pall bearers carry the single coffin containing Lee Martyn, 43, and his three-year-old daughter Sophie this morning
The single coffin containing Lee Martyn, 43, and his three-year-old daughter Sophie, leaves the Church of St Andrews today
The cortege leaves the Church of St Andrews today following the funeral for two of the victims of the Plymouth shootings
The coffin is pictured today outside the church where the funeral was held for two of the Plymouth shooting victims
Mr Martyn was hailed a hero for his brave attempts to shield his daughter when Davison struck. They were said to have been ‘silent’ as they fled the gunman, before the father was shot in the back from 15ft away.
He then fell on his daughter and spent the last moments of his life trying to protect her.
A witness said at the time of the attack: ‘A man was running with his little girl who was pushing a toy pram as she ran. There was no noise or screaming, they were just running.
‘This bloke with the gun stopped about 15ft from them, raised his gun to his shoulder, and shot the man in the back. He fell on to his daughter, protecting her even though he may have been dying.’
Davison shot the innocent pair at least two more times at close range to ‘finish them off’. He is said to have ‘hovered’ over their bodies for a moment before carrying on down the road to hunt more victims.
Jake Davison, 22, killed five people in Plymouth, Devon, before turning the gun on himself
Davison killed his mother Maxine Davison, 51, at a house at the start of his murderous rampage through Keyham, Plymouth
Davison went into the street and shot dead Sophie Martyn, three, and her father, Lee Martyn, 43
Davison also shot and murdered dog walker Stephen Washington, 59
Kate Shepherd, 66, was Davison’s final victim and was shot dead near a hair salon in Plymouth
The witness added: ‘He walked up and stood over them and fired from inches away to finish them off. It looked like first he shot the man in the head, then through the body, and I think that shot went through and killed the child.’
One of Mr Martyn’s family friends paid tribute to the father who made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ as he tried to save his daughter.
Dan Sobey, who runs a fitness business, said last month that Mrs Martyn had brought Sophie to his class when she was just six months old.
The 40-year-old told the Mirror: ‘Lee made the ultimate sacrifice. It brings a lump to my throat talking about it. As a friend and neighbour, we have real sympathy for them. You can see from photos how much of a strong, lovely family they were.’
Mr Sobey added: ‘She was a very cute little girl, with floppy red hair, and turned into a lovely little toddler. Someone else who used to train at the same gym as Becky told me they would see Sophie toddling around there too.’
Source: Daily Mail
