An inquest into the death of a 26-year-old man allegedly murdered during a summer solstice gathering near a Bronze Age stone circle in the Peak District has opened, though the cause of death remains undetermined.
Isaac Clare-Watts, a carpenter from Carrington in Nottingham, was discovered close to the Nine Ladies Stone Circle in Stanton Lees, Derbyshire, at approximately 1.38pm on Monday 22 June. The inquest, conducted by Susan Evans, coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, at Chesterfield Coroner's Court, confirmed that a post-mortem examination has yet to be completed.
Charges laid in connection with the incident
Szymon Babynko, 23, a Polish national from Commonwealth Way in London, has been charged with Mr Clare-Watts' murder. In addition, he faces an attempted murder charge relating to an incident on Hady Lane in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, on 25 June. Babynko was arrested on Thursday following a police investigation and remains in custody.
At Monday's inquest opening, which no relatives attended, Coroner Evans stated: "I'm opening the inquest touching on the death of Isaac Clare-Watts. He was identified at the LRI (Leicester Royal Infirmary) mortuary by his mother, Christy Clare, on the 24th of June 2026. I am yet to receive the full post-mortem report." She also expressed her condolences to the family.
Police investigation into brutal death
Detective Inspector Tony Owen, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, who is leading the murder investigation, previously described how Mr Clare-Watts perished "in the most brutal way" and urged witnesses to come forward. In a statement last month, he said: "A young man's life has been taken in the most brutal way so it is vital that myself and the team build up a clear picture of the exact circumstances surrounding his death."
The coroner revealed that Mr Clare-Watts lost his life in a grassland area near the early Bronze Age stone circle, a site that holds cultural significance. According to English Heritage, the Nine Ladies Stone Circle is "traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday." The location is often associated with summer solstice celebrations, which drew visitors around the time of the incident.
Legal proceedings and next steps
Babynko is next scheduled to appear at Derby Crown Court on 25 September. A trial is anticipated either in November of this year or March next year. The coroner has confirmed that the inquest into Mr Clare-Watts' death will be paused pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
The East Midlands Special Operations Unit continues to investigate, and police have appealed for anyone who attended the summer solstice event or has information about the incident to contact them. The death has shocked the local community and the families involved, with tributes paid to the young carpenter whose life was tragically cut short.
