A MURDER investigation is under way after a 20-year-old man, jailed last year for causing the death of a Liphook teenager by dangerous driving, died in hospital on Sunday.

Dwayne Ayres, from Yateley, who had recently been released from prison, was jailed for two and a half years last year after being convicted of causing the death of two teenagers, one from Liphook, by dangerous driving.

Mr Ayres died at Frimley Park Hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning.

On March 16 last year, Mr Ayres crashed his Peugeot 206 into a tree outside Calthorpe Park School in Fleet.

Callum Forbes, 15, from Liphook, and John Bryant, 18, who were in the car with him, were killed and two other teenage passengers were seriously injured.

Winchester Crown Court heard how Mr Ayres had lost control of the car while driving at 66mph in a 40mph zone and that blood samples revealed he had taken cocaine shortly before the crash.

Crash victim Mr Forbes attended Liphook Junior School and later went to Bohunt School, but a series of terrible disappointments in his short life turned him from a highly intelligent, caring boy into an out-of-control tearaway, according to his family at the time.

He stayed with his grandparents, Jackie and Frank Jones in Bramshott, before being sent to The Mead Children's Home in Odiham, near Fleet, and then to a young offenders' institution in Milton Keynes where, according to his grandfather, Callum began to turn the corner, but was later sent back to The Mead, despite the grandparents' concerns for his future.

Mr and Mrs Jones were distraught at his death and, at the time, blamed Hampshire County Council's social services department for not listening to their pleas to find Callum a residential boarding school where he would be distanced from drugs and receive an education, which they believe would have saved his life, as reported by the Herald at the time.

The family buried Callum at St Mary's Church, in Bramshott, on March 24 last year - just a stone's throw from his grandparents' home where he spent many happy holidays.

Nine people were arrested in connection with the death of Mr Ayres.

Following an incident at an address in Holt Way, Hook, and a property in nearby Four Acre Coppice were cordoned off by officers.

Detectives from Hampshire Constabulary's major crime department have since released two 21-year-old men, a 19-year-old man, a 20 year-old man and a 27-year-old man without charge.

On Tuesday, three people were charged with aggravated burglary: Lucy Ayres, 28, from Crondall, Stuart Young, 21, of Berkshire, and a 16-year-old male. All three were due to appear at Aldershot Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning.

A man, 24, held on suspicion of murder, was bailed until January 14, 2009.

A post mortem examination conducted by Home Office pathologist Huw White at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, found that Mr Ayres had died of a stab wound.

Det Chief Insp Colin Mathews, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: "A number of lines of inquiry are being investigated at this stage.

"We will not be drawn on the specifics behind the motives of this attack, particularly as a number of people are in custody.

"We would urge anyone with information about the incident, who hasn't already contacted us, to do so as soon as possible and in confidence."

Mr Ayres leaves a partner and an 18-month-old baby.

In a statement, his family said: "Dwayne was a lovely, caring son to Vanessa and will be greatly missed by all those who knew him for what he was and will always be remembered.

"He had just started to live his new life with his love Emily and their son Richard.

"The family and the large extended family of relatives and friends will miss Dwayne and we would ask everyone to respect our privacy at this time of tragedy."

Anyone with any information should contact the Operation Larkspur investigation team on 0845 0454545 or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.