Pair charged with Halloween murder

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The 30-year-old suffered fatal head injuries after confronting a thief who stole his girlfriend's Halloween hat in Sutton, south London.

Daniel Ransom, of Blake Close, Carshalton, and Ross Collender, of Wigmore Road, Carshalton, were charged after questioning at a south London police station, said Scotland Yard.

The unemployed pair will appear before Sutton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Investigators have been examining CCTV footage and quizzing witnesses since the incident on Sunday.

Mr Gardner, an IT expert at insurer Legal & General, was returning from a Halloween night out with his 28-year-old girlfriend when he was attacked on Sunday at 3.30am. Paramedics were called and took Mr Gardner to St Helier Hospital where he died that evening.

Another 20-year-old man, arrested earlier on Tuesday, was bailed to return on a date in December. Two other men, a 25-year-old and 21-year-old, arrested in connection with the investigation were bailed pending further inquiries.

His best friend, Will Fearnley-Whittingstall, a cousin of television chef Hugh, said Mr Gardner was the best man at his wedding six weeks ago.

He said: "Ben was never the sort to get in any trouble but he would put his life on the line to defend those he cared for. I have known Ben since I was seven years old. He was the nicest guy you will ever meet.

"He always had a laugh and a cheeky grin and he was the best man at my wedding only six weeks ago. He was everyone's best mate."