A 17-year-old boy is due to stand trial at Maidstone Crown Court in May charged with the murder of Ripple’s Director Colin Payne.
The popular businessman, who had run the bathroom showroom in Tunbridge Wells for more than nine years, died at his Dartford home in November. He was 54 and left a partner and two children from a previous marriage.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody when he appeared in court. The trial, which is likely to last for seven days, will start on May 8.
Colin Payne became a Director of the Ripple’s showroom in 2007 and went on to open other premises in Brighton and then Reigate.
At the age of 26, his sporting dream came true when he became a professional squash player enjoying six successful years at the top of the game.
After retiring as a professional he made it through to the quarter finals of the over-45s British Squash Open in 2012.
He was a member of Tunbridge Wells Squash Club which last week held a professional standard tournament in his memory.
