Family tells of shock after Ben dies in park stabbing (From Bucks Free Press)

Family tells of shock after Ben dies in park stabbing

9:46am Friday 6th August 2004 in News By James Webb

BEN Cargill, who was stabbed to death the day before his 25th birthday, is said to have lived for a short time with the man accused of killing him.

Ben was attacked as he walked through Lowndes Park, Chesham, just yards from where people were enjoying the good weather on Sunday afternoon.

Police and ambulance crews arrived, but the landscape gardener was pronounced dead at about 4pm.

Robert Browning, 22, of Bellingdon Road, Chesham, who according to the victim's dad had known Ben for some time and previously shared accommodation with him, was later charged with Ben's murder. He has been remanded in custody to appear at Reading Crown Court on Monday.

James Cargill, Ben's dad, told the Free Press: "Ben did actually live with him for a little while, I think they shared a room or a flat.

"Ben moved out and went to stay where he was up until now, which was in Glenister Road, Chesham.

"I don't think Ben was ever a good friend of his he just gave him a room one day when he needed one."

Mr Cargill believes his son would still be alive if he had not answered a friend's call for help.

He said: "We had a family barbecue and Ben should have been coming with us to his brother's house, but when his mum went to pick him up he said he'd had a phone call from a friend, a girl he knew, who had some problems and wanted to talk them over with him."

The 57-year-old self-employed gardener, added: "He was going to meet her in the park in the afternoon and to our knowledge that is what happened."

A park visitor, who had been listening to a band playing in the park at the time, said: "There were a lot of families with young children just walking about and enjoying the music and the weather. A tragic thing like that is certainly not something you would expect to see in those surroundings."

Mr Cargill, and his wife, Judith, 53, a dinner lady at Chesham Bois CofE School, were baffled as to a motive for the attack.

Mr Cargill said: "It came as a complete shock. Ben was very popular and had a big circle of friends. He wasn't a fighter. He liked a lot of fun and was always laughing."

The former Chesham High School pupil was described by his father as a fanatical Everton supporter and terrific pool player who lived life to the full. Mr Cargill said the family was devastated by the loss of their intelligent and loving son.

Mr Cargill revealed that just days before Sunday's fatal stabbing, Ben had been the victim of an unprovoked attack.

He said: "He had his face kicked in by somebody last week. It was awful because we had been taking him to and from the hospital because they thought his eye might be damaged. The other bloke, who he didn't know, just came at him."

Brother Gareth, a 28-year-old asbestos surveyor, was planning to meet Ben for a drink to celebrate his birthday on Monday.

He said: "Not only was he my brother he was one of my best mates. We were always going out for drinks together."

A post mortem held on Monday confirmed that Ben died of stab wounds.