14/12/06 - Ricky Percival found guilty of murder
By Donna Veasey, Essex Police Newsline
Ricky Percival has today been found guilty of the murdering Dean Boshell in February 2001. The judge sentencing Percival handed down a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years for shooting Dean Boshell in Leigh.
Percival was also found guilty of the attempted murders of Raymond and Stuart Tretton in Southend in June 1999, as well as the attempted murder of Jenny Dickinson and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He was given nine years in prison for each of the charges, to run concurrently.
He was also found guilty of the other five charges against him. The senior investigating officer Det Supt Tim Wills said: “We are extremely pleased with today’s verdict, not least for the family of Dean Boshell who have remained patient and supportive for over five years and now finally have the justice they deserve.
“The prosecution has successfully demonstrated that this crime was committed by some people who have questionable loyalties and no respect for human life or the devastation that taking a life can cause to others.
“The investigation to bring these people to justice has been very challenging particularly in respect of finding witnesses willing to give evidence in court. “It has been complex and prolonged but the investigating team have remained determined and diligent throughout and today’s verdict is evidence of the fact that Essex Police will not allow people to get away with murder.”
Dean’s mother Beverley Boshell said: “It is very difficult to describe how I feel or how my life has been over the past five years. “No parent expects to say goodbye to their child and I still can’t come to terms with it.
“I still think I see him walking down the street sometimes and he still keeps me awake at night. “When I went to ID him, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. “I know Dean was no angel and I made it plain to him I wasn’t happy with that side of his life but it didn’t stop me loving him any less.
“I am now over-protective with my other son as I am terrified I am going to lose him too. “I feel angry and upset. In court I have had to hear some horrible things said about Dean and I have to sit and listen to lie after lie. “Worst of all I have had to watch them sit in the dock looking so relaxed and like they don’t care at all about what they did.
“As far as I am concerned they everything that they get. “I can now go to where Dean’s ashes are and tell him it is over. He can rest properly now and I finally have a sense of relief and can perhaps start living a life again.”
Kevin Walsh was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
