Barry George, who spent eight years in jail before being acquitted of the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando, has won the first part of a legal bid for compensation.
Mr George, 50, from Fulham, was convicted of Ms Dando’s murder in July 2001 but was freed in 2008 after being acquitted at retrial. The High Court has now ruled that he is entitled to ask for a further judicial review hearing to fight the government’s decision to refuse him compensation. His injury lawyers claim that he was the subject of a miscarriage of justice and that he is ‘clearly innocent’.
Mr George was refused compensation in March 2010 by the then Justice Secretary Jack Straw, and a request for judicial review of that decision was rejected in May. Legal papers say that Mr George is now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to his wrongful conviction and sentence, and that he will need the money (the compensation may be anything up to £500,000) if he is going to be successfully rehabilitated, as he is unlikely to ever find paid work.
Mr George is said to suffer from Asperger’s syndrome and epilepsy as well as learning difficulties.
Crimewatch presenter Jill Dando was shot dead outside her London home in April 1999. The case remains unsolved.
The High Court judge said the hearing would not take place until there had been a Supreme Court ruling on similar cases, which was due to take place next year. The Supreme Court is set to hear three appeals in February 2011 which focus on the meaning of ‘miscarriage of justice’ when it comes to compensation claims.
Before the High Court could decide on his case, Mr George had to convince the judge that he had an ‘arguable case’ against the previous decision refusing him any compensation for his time in jail.
When the Supreme Court decisions are made next year, the High Court is expected to organise hearings giving each side the opportunity to argue their case. The next step would be a final ruling deciding on whether Mr George is allowed any compensation.
