Man, 21, appears in court charged with murder after 17-year-old Dom Ansah was knifed in the back and Ben Gillham-Rice in the chest at a house party in Milton Keynes
- Charlie Chandler is accused of stabbing Dom Ansah and Ben Gillham-Rice
- He allegedly killed both 17-year-olds at a party in Archford Croft, Emerson Valley
- Post-mortem revealed Dom was stabbed in the back and Ben in the chest
- Mr Chandler, of Bletchley, is also accused of the attempted murder of 23-year-old Ryan Brown and another 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons
A 21-year-old man accused of murdering two teenagers at a private house party in Milton Keynes appeared in court today charged with murder.
Charlie Chandler is accused of killing Dominic Ansah and Ben Gillham-Rice, both 17, at the party in Archford Croft, Emerson Valley in the city late on October 19.
Post-mortem examinations revealed Dominic was stabbed in the back and Ben in the chest.
Chandler, of Bletchley, is also accused of the attempted murder of 23-year-old Ryan Brown and another 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Pictured: Court artist sketch of Charlie Chandler (centre) appearing at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court
Dominic Ansah (left) and Ben Gillham-Rice (right, with mother Suzie Gillham), the teenagers who were killed at the house party in Milton Keynes
The charges allege the murders and attempted murders were committed with others.
Mr Chandler, who was wearing a grey tracksuit top and bottoms, spoke only to give the court his date of birth, address and nationality at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court today.
The victims’ families and friends viewed the five-minute hearing from the public gallery looking down on the court room.
The family of Charlie Chandler were seated at the back of the court.
Ambulance and police crews attended Archford Croft (pictured above) after reports that a stabbing had taken place
The victims’ families and friends viewed the five-minute hearing from the public gallery looking down on the court room (pictured left: Dominic Ansah. Right: Ben Gillham-Rice)
Chair of the magistrates Dr Phil Dobson remanded Chandler in custody to appear at Luton Crown Court on October 28.
He made an order banning the identification of the 17 year old attempted murder victim.
A 22-year-old man, from Milton Keynes, has also been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and is being questioned today.
After the attack, Police increased stop and search powers in part of the town with a Section 60 order ahead of a fair and fireworks display scheduled for Sunday.
Mr Chandler, who was wearing a grey tracksuit top and bottoms, spoke only to give the court his date of birth, address and nationality at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court today (pictured: Officers at the scene)
A 22-year-old man, from Milton Keynes, has also been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and is being questioned today (pictured: Police in Milton Keynes, October 21)
Superintendent Tim Metcalfe, commander for the Milton Keynes local policing area, said the enhanced powers were a ‘precautionary measure’ in order to detect items related to violence.
He said: ‘This is a precautionary measure, and I’d like to reassure people that the fair remains a safe event to attend, and that the section 60 order is simply being put in place to help us prevent disorder from occurring.
‘As a large local event, a policing presence was always planned for the fair but we are increasing the number of officers attending in order to ensure our enhanced powers under Section 60 can be put into place.’
Mr Metcalfe added police expect to carry out a large number of searches during the event.