Man in court over Julian Gardner death

Oliver Payne, 25, of Sandhurst Road, Tunbridge Wells, was charged by police this week, 11 months after the businessman was found dead at his home in Bush Barn Farm, on the A21 in Robertsbridge.

Payne was also charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He is the seventh man to be charged by police investigating Julian’s death.

Of these men, six have also been charged with manslaughter.

Payne appeared at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and has been bailed to appear at Lewes Crown Court on December 9.

He has not yet entered a plea to any of the charges.

The body of Julian Gardner, 53, was found on the driveway at Bush Barn by a colleague on October 11 last year.

So far police have arrested more than 15 people as part of the ongoing investigation into Mr Gardner’s death.

Some were subsequently released without charge.

Six men have already been charged and will face trial on February 13 2012.

Two of the men, Terrence Bristow, 40, of Chart Road, Great Chart, Ashford, and Marcus Bristow, 31, of Mock Lane, Great Chart, Ashford, remain in custody charged with manslaughter, burglary of Bush Barn Farm and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The following men have been charged with the same offences but have been released on conditional bail.

They are: Lee Delay, 22, of Whitegate Close, Tunbridge Wells, Christopher Leek, 29, of Pear Tree Close, Cranbrook, and Paul Dunn, 32, of Fryth Crescent, Cranbrook.

A sixth man, Terrence Dunn, 56, of Tanyards Estate, Sandhurst, has been bailed after being charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice.