A Polish man has been charged with the murder of a 26-year-old during a summer solstice gathering at a Bronze Age stone circle in Derbyshire. Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham, was found dead at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle in Stanton Lees, located in the Peak District, shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 22.
Szymon Babynko, who resides on Commonwealth Way in London, appeared in Derby magistrates' court on June 29 before District Judge Jonathan Taaffe. He was remanded in custody ahead of a scheduled hearing at Derby Crown Court the following day. In addition to the murder charge, Babynko faces an attempted murder charge connected to an incident that took place on June 25 in Hady Lane, Chesterfield.
Derbyshire Constabulary indicated that several individuals were present at the location between June 19 and June 23 and have requested that anyone who attended the event or possesses video footage from that period come forward. Authorities are also seeking dashcam recordings capturing traffic to and from the site over the weekend.
The Peak District National Park Authority expressed condolences to Clare-Watts’s family following the incident, emphasizing the community’s sorrow during this difficult time. Investigations remain ongoing as police continue to gather information related to the events at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle.