A 15-year-old Oxfordshire schoolboy has been charged with unlawfully killing a teenager, writes Paul Warner.

James Dawson, 16, suffered head injuries following an incident in a quiet leafy lane in Park Lane, Swalcliffe, near Banbury, on March 31.

Paramedics were called to the scene where they put James on a ventilator before rushing him to The Horton Hospital, Banbury.

But he never regained consciousness.

He died several hours later after his family took the agonising decision to switch off his life-support machine.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is due to appear at Banbury youth court on May 9. Police say he lives in a village near Banbury. Detectives initially questioned four teenagers in connection with James's death.

James lived with his mother, Christine Dawson, and 21-year-old brother Mark at Church Furlong, Upper Tadmarton.

The family moved to the village from Hook Norton three years ago.

His father, Peter, died of cancer shortly before Christmas 1998 at the Katharine House Hospice, Adderbury, where James did some work experience as a groundsman last year.

At a police press conference following James's death, his sister Louise, 24, who lives in Essex, des- cribed him as a person with "lots of friends".

She said: "He had a lot to live for and wished for so much in the future. He was a very loved boy and he will be terribly missed."

Story date: Wednesday 12 April

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