Two men who are accused of murdering a 55-year-old father in High Wycombe were brought before a judge today (Friday).
Nickolas Williams, 25, of Gibbs Close in High Wycombe, and Daniel Ramsey, 25, of Micklefield Road in High Wycombe, appeared before judge Heather Norton at Reading Crown Court this morning.
Both men are charged with murdering Andrew Ballantyne, a 55-year-old father and grandfather who was found unresponsive on the ground in High Wycombe in the early hours of Saturday morning.
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Appearing via video link from HMP Bullingdon, where they are both being held, Williams and Ramsey wore grey prison-issued sweaters and blue facemasks, pulled down below their chins.
At the pre-trial preliminary hearing, provisional dates for future hearings were set. Both men are yet to indicate a plea of guilty or not guilty.
A bail hearing will be held on August 13, where lawyers for both defendants can argue for their clients to be released from custody for the duration of legal proceedings.
A provisional trial date has been earmarked for February 7, 2022. It is anticipated that a trial would last around four weeks.
Yesterday, two other men, aged 24 and 35, were arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the same incident.
The two men, both from High Wycombe, are yet to be charged.
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