MPs' expenses case to be heard by Supreme Court
Three former Labour MPs facing criminal trials over expenses-fiddling allegations have been cleared to go to the Supreme Court in their bid to have the charges thrown out.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, ruled that there was a "point of general public importance" for Britain's highest court to rule on.
David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine will now have their case heard on Oct. 18 by a nine-judge panel after the Court of Appeal in July ruled against their claim that they were protected from criminal prosecution by parliamentary privilege.
However, Lord Judge said that in these "straitened times" he could not justify allowing them legal aid for a team of six barristers to take the case forward. Instead the MPs will be represented collectively by one leading barrister and his assistant.
Comment: I would question why these 3 rich people were granted Legal Aid in the first place! Surely they could have afforded to pay for their defence out of the taxpayers money they fiddled on their expenses?
5 comments:
I sincerely hope when they are sentenced the judge orders their assets seized to pay back any Legal Aid.
There are more deserving cases who will be denied the opportunity of Legal Aid because these three piggies have cleaned the trough out otherwise.
BB: Speaking of which I cannot get Legal Aid in the case of Rocky and s.2 of the Dogs Act 1871...
You haven't got those two important letters after your name John - MP!
Anyway with your experience I thought you would be taking silk very soon?
The seeking of legal aid is proportional to what they are accused of-that's their mindset - rip off all you can.
I think James it's more a case of what they think they're "entitled" to!
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