New police probe into cement mixer death

Grant Prior 13 years ago
Share

Police in Essex and Kent are to reinvestigate the death of a man whose body was found in a cement mixer lorry eight years ago.

Driver Lee Balkwell, 33, from Hornchurch, was found in a mechanism under the drum of the concrete mixer lorry in July 2002.

An inquest found his death was a result of unlawful killing through gross negligence.

Police ruled that Balkwell was the victim of a freak accident as he cleaned the lorry’s mixing drum.

But his father Les, a retired engineer, has long suspected murder and has accused police of a cover-up.

West Midlands Police have reviewed the case and recommended that Essex Police reinvestigate.

The details of the West Midlands report will not be released while investigations are carried out, Essex Police said.

A number of complaints against Essex Police officers involved in the original inquiry into the death are being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A team led by temporary Det Ch Supt Lee Catling of the Kent and Essex Joint Serious and Organised Crime Directorate will now conclude the investigative work carried out by West Midlands Police.

“Essex Police continues to keep an open mind on the cause of Lee Balkwell’s death,” a police statement said.

“The West Midlands report recommends particular investigative actions to be taken, disclosure of which could be prejudiced by making the report public.”

An inquiry by the Health and Safety Executive has been suspended pending the conclusion of the police investigation.

Latest news

Buckingham Group supply chain hit for over £108m

Over 1,200 firms left in the lurch, while bond providers brace for £86m payout
2 days ago

Bidders day for £4bn-plus Palace of Westminster restoration

Tendering to start next July for main construction, integrator and design partners
2 days ago

Green light for 690-home Birmingham Smithfield scheme

Prosperity Group plans to start work in Autumn next year on major Smithfield scheme
2 days ago

Go-ahead for 289 homes next to Saltaire World Heritage site

Ambitious plan to demolish a vacant Bradford office complex for new residential quarter
2 days ago

Costain wins phase 2 of A40 Westway viaduct repairs

TfL re-signs Costain for Wood Lane to Marylebone Flyovers repairs
2 days ago

Regeneration specialist Muse gets new MD

North west chief Phil Mayall promoted to run whole Muse business
2 days ago

Building engineering services workers accept 7% pay rise

Two-year deal includes a 3% hourly rate rise from October 2024.
2 days ago

Inland Homes files for administration

Questions remain over house builder's last two years of accounts
3 days ago

Council orders developer to tear down tower blocks

Comer Homes told to demolish occupied towers in Woolwich after planning row
4 days ago

Bouygues UK restructure sees CEO exit

Contractor restructures as Rob Bradley retires
3 days ago

Fit-out firm BW Workplace returns to profit

London and south east fit-out firm sees revenue rebound 50% to £216m
3 days ago

Tarmac fined £1.275m after quarry death

26-year-old Luke Branston died during maintenance work at Leicestershire quarry
3 days ago

Galliford Try targets multi-rise affordable housing

Firm fills new role of director of affordable homes
3 days ago

Barratt to demolish more homes with faulty foundations

Number of homes to be demolished on Cambridge estate rises from 36 to 83
4 days ago

Steel contractor William Hare edges back to break-even

Revenue slides a quarter to £165m as firm records £108,000 profit
4 days ago

Willmott Dixon fails to agree final price for Newcastle leisure job

City council looks for new contractor as budgets under pressure
4 days ago

Bidding to start for civil service’s second home in Darlington

Government Property Agency will invite bids in Q4 for major new Government office complex
4 days ago

Arup and Aecom on board for £1bn Lincolnshire powerline

New high voltage overhead line and substations from Grimsby and Walpole
4 days ago

Plan in for Stansted airport terminal extension

Original Foster design will be replicated in 54m extension towards airfield
4 days ago

Clients consider options after Westridge collapse

£64m turnover contractor now in hands of administrators
5 days ago

Plans in for 800-bed Leeds student and retail scheme

Major scheme will replace The Core shopping centre in the city
5 days ago

Eric Wright Construction returns to profit

Construction division back in the black as strict contract selection pays off
5 days ago

Balfour boss Leo Quinn backs rainbow lanyards

Chief executive vows "visible leadership" on diversity drive
5 days ago

McAleer & Rushe awarded £60m Barking flats job

Work to start in November on near 200 rental homes project
5 days ago

Lancashire Council awards £300m building framework

Carefoot and Conlon secure spots for major building jobs
5 days ago

Housing contractor Real LSE files administration notice

Real LSE part of group formed in 2021 following acquisition of Rydon contracts
6 days ago

ISG clinches £155m Cat D prison expansion

Firm to deliver 780 new places at three existing prison locations
6 days ago

27-storey Salford student tower approved

540-bed student block to be built on former site of McDonalds' regional HQ
6 days ago

Morgan Sindall £48m Dumfries school job approved

Building work to start before the end of 2023
6 days ago

Pagabo starts race for £1.6bn decarbonising frameworks

Two frameworks are anchored by Great Ormond Street Hospital and Hull City Council
6 days ago

Contractor services