37-Year-Old Charged in Connection with Fatal Shooting of Young Farmer in Derbyshire

A 37-year-old man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of an award-winning young farmer in Derbyshire, more than two years after the incident. The body of 23-year-old Charles Kinston was found in a field off Brizlincote Lane in Bretby, near Swadlincote, on January 29, 2024. Joseph Simpkins, 37, of Brizlincote Lane, Bretby, has been charged with manslaughter, possessing ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, and possessing prohibited ammunition. He has been released on bail and is scheduled to appear before Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on June 15. Kinston was known for his creativity and engineering skills, notably modifying a Land Rover into an off-road milk float. The farming community mourned his death, describing him as a “much-loved, kind and generous character”.