15/12/06 - No compensation for murder
Essex Evening Echo
Murder victim Dean Boshell had served three years in the Royal Artillery, reaching the rank of bombardier, and received medals for bravery and service in Northern Ireland.
His father Fergus, from Basildon, threatened to return his Army medals in protest at being turned down for financial compensation for his son's murder.
Dean had left prison and, according to his dad, was trying to get his life back on track.
He had settled with his girlfriend Emma in the Southend area and begun rebuilding family ties.
Mr Boshell wrote 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.
Mr Boshell said at the time: "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."
