The family of a man who was killed in a concrete mixer accident in Essex has been awarded £12,000 in compensation. 33-year-old Lee Balkwell suffered fatal injuries after becoming trapped under the drum of a concrete mixer lorry.  Colleagues found him crushed under the vehicle after the accident happened in a lane at South Ockendon. Mr Balkwell’s father, Les Balkwell, believes that his son was murdered and argues that the police investigation into his death was not thorough enough.

The accident happened in 2002 when Mr Balkwell had been cleaning out the cement mixer. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority awarded his family with £12,000 in compensation “after considering all the evidence”. An inquest dury returned the verdict of unlawful killing through gross negligence.

“The fight will go on”

In 2014 Mr Balkwell’s employer, Simon Bromley, was charged with failing to ensure the health and safety of his employee, but was later cleared of manslaughter charges by gross negligence.

Mr Balkwell’s father believes that not enough has been done following the death of his son. He said: “It is like another chip out of the wall. The truth seems to be coming out. The fight will go on.” He continued: “My family wants to see closure. It is such a drain on them.”

A police spokesman said that Essex Police have no intentions of reopening the investigation.

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