miccisy
30-11-2008, 14:25
SERIAL stalker Barry George wants £4million compensation for being jailed over Jill Dando’s murder.
It would net him £500,000 for each of his eight years behind bars and be the biggest payout for a miscarriage of justice in British legal history.
And it would be devastating for Jill’s family who were awarded just £10,000 from the Criminal Compensation Board after the TV star was shot dead on her doorstep.
Loner George walked free in August after the Appeal Court cleared him of murdering the 37-year-old Crimewatch presenter in 1999.
His lawyers say he deserves the huge payout because the case continues to plague his life.
A source close to his legal bid said last night: “People will be shocked at the figure but Barry spent eight years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit and he deserves his payday.
George, 48, who during his appeal hearing admitted pestering women, has returned to his oddball ways.
Cleared
He was quizzed by cops in October over claims he stalked Sky TV presenter Kay Burley. He is besotted with Pam Wright, the fiancée of Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright.
And George has also struck up a bizarre friendship with Sion Jenkins, who was cleared of murdering his 13-year-old foster daughter Billie-Jo.
George’s compensation bid, if successful, would dwarf Britain’s highest claim—the £1.8 million paid to Stephen Downing who was locked up for 27 years for killing Wendy Sewell in 1973 in Britain’s longest-ever miscarriage of justice.
Paddy Hill, one of the Birmingham Six, got £910,000 for being wrongly jailed for life for the 1974 pub bombings.
And Michael Hickey received £990,000 after spending 18 years in jail before being cleared in 1997 of the murder of newspaper boy Carl Bridgewater.
Lawyers began George’s compensation claim just two weeks after he was freed — but they face a race against time.
A new law comes into force tomorrow limiting payouts to £500,000 for less than ten years in jail.
The rule, under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice Act 2008, covers claims that are APPROVED from Monday. A Home Office spokesman confirmed: “Section 61 comes into force on December 1.
"Under these provisions applications for compensation approved on or after December 1 will be capped at £500,000.
“Applications approved for compensation before December 1 will be assessed under the previous system.”
The Barry George source added: “We hope there is no dragging of heels in the system.”
STALKED: Kay
Misfit George was given a £58,000 emergency loan on his release and he has rejected the Government’s £146,000 offer.
It would give him £90 for every day behind bars minus £40 a day “bed and board”.
George’s team may argue that he should be exempt because he is a special case.
Leading human rights lawyer Campbell Malone said if George’s compensation is capped and he wants to challenge the decision he would have to appeal to the Eurpean Court of Human Rights.
He said: “But it would be difficult to appeal in England because he either meets the criteria or not and the £500,000 limit isn’t something that’s likely to be challenged. I would say if he is unsuccessful he should take it up with Europe.
“But there have been a number of challenges to this law that have been unsuccessful.”
To be honest all he has been through, and will still go through i think he should get it. Not to mention being wrongfully imprisoned for 8 years people will still always think he did it.
It would net him £500,000 for each of his eight years behind bars and be the biggest payout for a miscarriage of justice in British legal history.
And it would be devastating for Jill’s family who were awarded just £10,000 from the Criminal Compensation Board after the TV star was shot dead on her doorstep.
Loner George walked free in August after the Appeal Court cleared him of murdering the 37-year-old Crimewatch presenter in 1999.
His lawyers say he deserves the huge payout because the case continues to plague his life.
A source close to his legal bid said last night: “People will be shocked at the figure but Barry spent eight years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit and he deserves his payday.
George, 48, who during his appeal hearing admitted pestering women, has returned to his oddball ways.
Cleared
He was quizzed by cops in October over claims he stalked Sky TV presenter Kay Burley. He is besotted with Pam Wright, the fiancée of Suffolk Strangler Steve Wright.
And George has also struck up a bizarre friendship with Sion Jenkins, who was cleared of murdering his 13-year-old foster daughter Billie-Jo.
George’s compensation bid, if successful, would dwarf Britain’s highest claim—the £1.8 million paid to Stephen Downing who was locked up for 27 years for killing Wendy Sewell in 1973 in Britain’s longest-ever miscarriage of justice.
Paddy Hill, one of the Birmingham Six, got £910,000 for being wrongly jailed for life for the 1974 pub bombings.
And Michael Hickey received £990,000 after spending 18 years in jail before being cleared in 1997 of the murder of newspaper boy Carl Bridgewater.
Lawyers began George’s compensation claim just two weeks after he was freed — but they face a race against time.
A new law comes into force tomorrow limiting payouts to £500,000 for less than ten years in jail.
The rule, under Section 61 of the Criminal Justice Act 2008, covers claims that are APPROVED from Monday. A Home Office spokesman confirmed: “Section 61 comes into force on December 1.
"Under these provisions applications for compensation approved on or after December 1 will be capped at £500,000.
“Applications approved for compensation before December 1 will be assessed under the previous system.”
The Barry George source added: “We hope there is no dragging of heels in the system.”
STALKED: Kay
Misfit George was given a £58,000 emergency loan on his release and he has rejected the Government’s £146,000 offer.
It would give him £90 for every day behind bars minus £40 a day “bed and board”.
George’s team may argue that he should be exempt because he is a special case.
Leading human rights lawyer Campbell Malone said if George’s compensation is capped and he wants to challenge the decision he would have to appeal to the Eurpean Court of Human Rights.
He said: “But it would be difficult to appeal in England because he either meets the criteria or not and the £500,000 limit isn’t something that’s likely to be challenged. I would say if he is unsuccessful he should take it up with Europe.
“But there have been a number of challenges to this law that have been unsuccessful.”
To be honest all he has been through, and will still go through i think he should get it. Not to mention being wrongfully imprisoned for 8 years people will still always think he did it.