Cement death man exhumed

The body of Lee Balkwell who died in a cement mixer in Essex is to be exhumed.

Live updates

Post-mortem carried out on exhumed body

A post-mortem has been carried out on a body which was exhumed more than 10 years after being found in a cement mixer on a farm in Essex.

An original police investigation concluded Lee Balkwell's death was an accident but the 33-year-old's family has always maintained he was killed.

A new post-mortem has now been carried out on Lee's body and he was reburied at 7am today.

Detective Inspector Janine Farrell, said: "We will now await the full post-mortem report and will then be assessing the results to see how they can help inform the next steps in our investigation.

"Our enquiries are continuing and we remain open to all hypotheses regarding Lee’s death and if anyone has any information regarding the death of Lee Balkwell, no matter how trivial they consider it, even after all this time, they should contact my team on 01634 884033."

Advertisement

Body of man who died in Essex cement mixer to be exhumed

The body of a man who died in a cement mixer in Essex is to be exhumed by detectives investigating his death. Lee Balkwell, who was 33, died in July 2002. His body was found inside a cement mixer lorry on a farm track in Upminster.

Lee Balkwell died in July 2002

Lee's body will now be exhumed as part of an ongoing investigation by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate. The initial investigation by Essex police lasted just 19 days and concluded his death was an accident. An inquest in 2008 recorded a verdict of unlawful killing by gross negligence.

Last year the Independent Police Complaints Commission published a report saying the initial investigation by Essex Police was "seriously flawed." Last month the Balkwell family filed a High Court claim against Essex police alleging the investigation breached human rights law.

Five people arrested on suspicion of corporate manslaughter remain on police bail.

Back to top