Six in court for farmer manslaughter (From The Argus)

Six in court for farmer manslaughter

8:17am Monday 13th February 2012 in News By Bill Gardner

Six men are due in court today charged with the manslaughter of a Sussex farmer.

Julian Gardner was mown down outside his home in October 2010 as he tried to tackle burglars.

The 52-year-old’s body was discovered by a horrified colleague who turned up to work the next morning morning.

Mr Gardner ran a mixed arable and livestock farm and a farm machinery business at Bush Barn Farm, Robertsbridge, just off the A21.

Six men are charged with manslaughter, conspiracy to burgle Bush Barn Farm and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

They are Terence Bristow, 41, of Chart Road, Great Chart, Ashford, Kent - Marcus Bristow, 32, of Mock Lane, Great Chart, Ashford, Kent - Lee Delay, 23, of Whitegate Close, Tunbridge Wells, Kent - Christopher Leek, 30, of Pear Tree Close, Cranbrook, Kent, and Paul Dunn, 33, of Fryth Crescent, Cranbrook, Kent and Oliver Payne, 25, of Sandhurst Road, Tunbridge Wells.

A seventh man Terrence Dunn, 57, of Tanyards Estate, Sandhurst, Kent, is charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The trial is likely to last eight weeks.