Compensation For The Acquitted?
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The man who spent eight years wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit before being released and acquitted has apparently won the first step to receiving compensation from the High Court.
Fifty year old Barry George was convicted of the murder of TV favourite Jill Dando in 2001 and remained in prison until 2008 where his conviction was quashed. It was a long battle but finally he was released and all charges abandoned. His lawyers are now campaigning that he deserves compensation for the stress ans upset his ordeal has caused him.
It has now been announced that the High Court will have ordered a judicial review into the decision to ban him from claiming compensation.
The murder of Ms Dando took place outside of her London home in April 1999. She died as the result of a single shot wound to the head.
Mr George was initially refused compensation when he first submitted his intention to claim in March this year by former Justice Secretary Jack Straw. A judge later turned down his request for a review of that decision in May.
The legal evidence provided by the court suggests that Mr George was suffering from post traumatic stress due to being imprisoned wrongly for the crime. Claims made by his barrister suggest that his recovery is dependent upon financial circumstances as it is unlikely he will ever partake in paid work again.
Mr George is also said to suffer from epilepsy, Asperger's syndrome and has learning difficulties. His lawyers have always maintained that he is simple a victim of a miscarriage of justice and is clearly innocent.
Now, the Supreme Court are set to hear three individual appeals that each focus of what a miscarriage of justice really means in relation to claims for compensation.
Before the High Court makes a decision Mr George will be required to prove that he has an 'arguable case' to the judge. He has to prove this in order to receive compensation.
The rumoured amount of compensation Mr George could receive is estimated to reach 500,000.
The case of who the real killer is still remains unsolved.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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