Less than three weeks ago, 55-year-old grandfather Andrew Ballantyne tragically died after he was found unresponsive on the ground by police officers in High Wycombe.

This sparked off a murder investigation which saw five people arrested and charged.

Tributes have been paid to Mr Ballantyne, who was found in Micklefield Way in the early hours of Saturday, July 31. He was described by his family as “a whole-hearted person.”

What will happen next?

Five suspects have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with Mr Ballantyne’s death.

All five of the men have been seen at Magistrates’ Court, and then at Reading Crown Court.

None of the suspects have had an opportunity to plead either guilty or not guilty at this stage.

The men are next expected to appear at Reading Crown Court on Friday 29 October for a case management hearing, where arrangements for future hearings and a potential trial will take place.

READ MORE:

Men accused of High Wycombe ‘murder’ brought before judge

Two more men charged with murder after grandfather died in street

Fifth man is charged with murder after death of High Wycombe grandfather in street

A provisional date for the trial has been set for Monday 7 February, 2022. This could change, however, depending on other court proceedings not running over and on COVID-19 lockdown restrictions not changing between now and February.

A trial had initially been expected to last for four weeks, but prosecutors have advised that it could be longer.

A trial will only take place if the defendants plead not guilty to the charges.

Who has been charged?

Five men have been charged with murder in connection with Andrew Ballantyne’s death. They are:

  • Ramah Lambkin, 24, of Rowan Avenue, High Wycombe
  • Asher Anderson, 35, of Walton Gardens, Wembley
  • Daniel Ramsey, 25, of Micklefield Road, High Wycombe 
  • Nickolas Williams, 25, of Gibbs Close, High Wycombe
  • James Scott, 32, of Hawthorne Road, High Wycombe

A sixth man, aged 27, was also arrested in connection with the incident. He was later released under investigation and has not been charged.

The five men who have been charged will remain in custody until the hearing in October.

Who is the deceased?

Andrew Ballantyne was a father and grandfather with a loving family.

Following his death, they released a statement speaking of their heartbreak over his loss.

They said: “Andrew was a whole-hearted person, who would help anyone who asked him to help them.

ALSO READ:

'A whole-hearted person': Family's heartbreaking tribute to man who died in High Wycombe

'Micklefield has lost a legend': More tributes pour in for High Wycombe 'murder' victim

“He was a man who was committed to his family, he was the heart of the family and was a committed son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and friend.

“Anything Andrew did, he put his heart and soul into.

“He had a deep passion for cars and he was a peacemaker in the community, talking to young people to change their ways.

“May his soul rest in peace.”

For more of the latest court and crime news from around Bucks, be sure to sign up to the FREE weekly Crime & Court Catch Up

And don’t forget to join the NEW Bucks Crime And Court Watch group on Facebook to keep up with breaking crime news and the latest outcomes from courts across the county