25/05/06 - Dad's battle for justice
Essex Chronicle

A Man has launched a website on the eve of the fourth anniversary of his only son's death, in a bid to bring his killers to justice. Heartbroken Les Balkwell, 59, of Hornchurch, claims he knows who murdered his son Lee, 33, at Baldwins Farm, Upminster, just three weeks after he began working for a concrete firm based there.

Essex Police say they do not have enough evidence to prove that Lee was murdered in a cement mixer incident. The mixer was activated and Lee, of Elm Park, was found crushed in lorry machinery around 1.30am on July 18, 2002. Mr Balkwell believes Lee was probably murdered because he may have owed money to drug dealers.

He hopes the website, www.justiceforleebalkwell.com, will bring forward new evidence to substantiate his murder theory. Mr Balkwell, of Abbs Cross Lane, said: "Whatever my son may or may not have done regarding drugs, he did not deserve to die. I know who murdered my son. I know how they murdered my son. "My family needs to know the truth. Lee is not the only victim of these people. I have evidence not only about my son's murder, but also about three other deaths at their hands."

Essex Police say they looked at whether foul play had led to Lee's death, but were unable to gather sufficient evidence of intent. Mr Balkwell has complained to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).