07/10/05 - My son's death was murder
Father's claim in mixer horror
By Eden Black
Recorder

A FATHER whose son died three years ago in a bizarre cement-mixer incident claims he was murdered - and wants the case looked at again in depth. Les Balkwell, father of Lee, has contacted Hornchurch MP James Brokenshire, and he is now taking steps to get police to probe deeper into the mysterious death.

Lee, 33, of Jersey Road, Elm Park, was killed just two weeks after starting work at Upminster Concrete, in Baldwins Farm, Dennises Lane - he was found crushed in the machinery of a mixing lorry, at about 1.30am on July 18,2002. It is thought he was chipping off hardened concrete through a hatch when the mixer was somehow activated, killing him instantly.

Both Essex Police and the Health and Safety Executive launched immediate investigations to discover why Lee died and how the mixer could have been activated. But both investigations have failed to come to any conclusions, leaving Lee's family still searching for the truth.

At the time of the tragedy, an inquest was opened and adjourned by Basildon coroners, but a full hearing date has yet to be announced. Essex Police looked at whether foul play had led to Lee's death, but officers claimed they could not gather sufficient evidence of intent and so the Crown Prosecution Service was unable to bring about charges.

Les has continually maintained his son was unlawfully killed. In December last year he made a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to that effect.

He said: "What was supposed to be an accident was initially being investigated by a major police team. I believe Lee was murdered. At the beginning they suspected it was a crime. We want the truth; we want justice for Lee." Les, 58, of Abbs Cross Lane, Hornchurch, added that after collecting dozens of files, newspaper cuttings, and letters relating to his son's death, the facts just did not add up.

Mr Brokenshire is now helping Les file a new complaint to the IPCC, to force Essex Police to look again at the case in more detail. A letter was sent to Hazel Blears MP, Minster with responsibilities for policing matters, by Mr Brokenshire, asking that another police force looks into Lee's death - a request that was refused.

Mr Brokenshire said: "There are all sorts of funny things going on with this case. That's why it needs closer scrutiny and to be investigated fully. "It needs more public exposure. I'm standing by Les and have a great deal of sympathy for him. There are all sorts of allegations being made. And while there has been one investigation by the IPCC, I believe the information that Les has supplied to me calls for a closer look."

Chief Supt Coxwell, based at Grays Police Station and the officer who headed the case, said: "There was a criminal investigation on the basis of seeing whether a deliberate or reckless act was involved in Lee's death. "But the conclusion by the Crown Prosecution Service was that there was insufficient , evidence to consider a manslaughter charge."