07/12/01 - Murder victim's dad to hand back medals
Evening Echo

The grieving father of murder victim Dean Boshell has vowed to return his Army medals in protest at being turned down for financial compensation.

Fergus Boshell is still heartbroken over the death of his son Dean, who was shot dead and his body left in a Leigh allotment in March this year.

Dean, who even police admitted was a petty criminal rather than any kind of Mr Big, had left prison last October and, according to Fergus, 51, was trying to get his life back on track.

He had settled with his girlfriend Emma in the Southend area and had set about rebuilding family ties after a number of years of infrequent contact.

However, his body was found in allotments in Manchester Drive, Leigh, with a single gunshot wound to the back of his head.

Despite a lengthy and in-depth investigation by Rayleigh major investigations team, nobody has been charged with his murder.

Detectives say that the investigation is "still ongoing" nine months after his death.

On behalf of Dean's step-sisters and brothers, Fergus, of Peterborough Way, Basildon, had written to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority but was turned down on the grounds of Dean's previous convictions for car theft, burglary, attempted theft, drink-driving and handling stolen goods.

Fergus said: "He did wrong, went to prison, did his time and came out with a clean slate as far as I'm concerned. The day he was shot dead he was a victim, not a criminal."

Fergus said he would now return his Army medals in protest. He served three years in the Royal Artillery, reaching the rank of bombardier and received medals for bravery and for service in Northern Ireland.

He said: "I am disgusted. What they are saying is that because he did a few things wrong in the past, he was worth nothing to his family."

A spokesman for the CICA said: "A criminal past can be a factor in refusal of compensation. There are varying qualifying factors and the conduct before, during and after the incident is a factor.

"We do look at the character of the person, including previous convictions, which may result in a reduction in the award.

"We cannot speak about individual cases.

"If the applicants are dissatisfied they are entitled to have the decision reviewed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel, where the case is heard before a separate and independent panel.

"The compensation system we have is still the most generous scheme of its kind in the world. But it is not an easy touch - people have to make a good case."