On what was supposed to be a weekend of celebration due to the King’s coronation, it was one of the darkest days in High Wycombe’s recent history as 17-year-old Cameron Bailey was found dead within the town.

In the evening of Sunday, May 7 at around 7.30pm, officers were called to Easton Street following reports of a stabbing.

The authorities attended along with the ambulance service but sadly, the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two days after his death, a 29-year-old man and a 49-year-old man were both arrested on suspicion of murder and were taken into police custody.

By mid-June, two more arrests were made which involved a 32-year-old man and a 37-year-old man, in connection to Cameron’s murder, along with a 17-year-old boy.

In all, each of the five suspects was eventually named (excluding the 17-year-old), and eventually charged with the following crimes by September of this year:

·       A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with murder, wounding with intent, conspiracy to rob, robbery and two counts of possession of a bladed article

 

·       Philip Solomon, 37, of no fixed abode, Aaran Pattinson, 32, of Old Tea Warehouse, High Wycombe, and Scott Cordice, 29, of the same address, were all charged with murder (Solomon and Pattinson are also accused of wounding another 17-year-old boy with intent and conspiracy to rob Mr Bailey and two others)

 

·       Co-defendant Marlon Cato, 49, of Station Close, High Wycombe, is also due to stand trial charged with assisting an offender.

 

The trial began on Wednesday, October 25 at Reading Crown Court with barrister Mr John Lloyd-James opening the case.

He said: "This concerns the murder of a 17-year-old man called Cameron Bailey and the attempted murder of his friend, also aged 17, that took place on May 7 this year.

"Ladies and gentlemen [of the jury], Cameron and [his friend] are from the Brighton area and they came to High Wycombe.

"It is no secret that they came to High Wycombe to deal Class A drugs - specifically heroin and crack cocaine.

"They began dealing in High Wycombe on a drug line called the 'Max Line'.

"[The 17-year-old] was also associated with a drug line.

“[The teen], armed with a machete, approached Cameron and [his friend] when they were out selling drugs in High Wycombe.

"[The teen], on that Saturday, warned Cameron and [his friend] to stop dealing, quite simply because they were stealing his customers.

"[The teen], ladies and gentlemen, on that Saturday threatened to stab them if they didn't leave the area - that warning was not heeded.”

The jury then heard that the teen, along with Solomon, Pattinson, and Cordice, allegedly robbed Cameron and his friend, reportedly killing the 17-year-old in the process.

Cato was then allegedly caught helping Cordice by hiding the clothes and shoes that he was wearing at the time.

Due to last six weeks, the trial suddenly stopped after one month when the jury panel were dismissed.

It is unknown why the trial has been ruled as ineffective but proceedings will take place again with a new jury next year.