Murder charge after Reading station assault
60 year old John Donovan, from Tilehurst in Reading, died from his injuries earlier this month
Last updated 21st Aug 2024
A man has been charged with murder after an assault outside Reading Station last month, which left a man with fatal injures.
60 year old John Donovan, from Tilehurst in Reading, passed away from his injuries in hospital on August 11.
He was assaulted outside the station at around 8:45pm on July 20.
26 year old Ryan Basden, of no fixed address, faces one count of murder and is due before Reading Crown Court tomorrow (August 22).
A 39 year old man from Slough remains out on bail on suspicion of GBH with intent, along with a 20 year old woman from Reading who was questioned on suspicion of inflicting GBH.
Tributes
In a tribute Mr Donovan's family said:
“As a family we are devastated by John’s untimely death.
“He was a much loved brother, father, grandfather, uncle and brother in law.
“If any of us ever needed anything, John would always be there to help with a smile and offers of support.
“John had a huge circle of friends due to his varied interests, notwithstanding all his friends from his childhood and school days in Reading.
“We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to the police and ambulance staff who attended John immediately after the incident and escorted him to the John Radcliffe Hospital.
“We would also like to say a huge thank you for the excellent care that he received in the Neurosciences ICU in Oxford.
“The staff not only looked after John, they supported us as a family in the last three weeks of his life.
“We would now be very grateful as a family if we are given time to grieve for the lovely person who was John in private.”