Should The Cps/taxpayer Pay Nigel Evans Legal Expenses?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27007764

[Svejk]

don't they have legal aid in Manchester then,dr.
are the police out to get you, lol.

[anotheoldgit]

Perhaps the failed prosecuting lawyers should also forfeit their fees as well?

[DrFilth]

Svejk when this speeding charge case happened i was lucky to get some info from one of the top briefs in the country free of charge

how why and where this happened is not for an open forum -)

[mikey4444]

Just heard on the midday news that Keith Vaz, Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee has called on the authorities to look into these high profile court cases. Perhaps we reached a nadir with Mr Evans.

[mikey4444]

DrFilth...its not as if the Police never fitted up any innocent person is it ?

[hc4361]

Svejk, you try and get legal aid for a motoring offence. Not a hope unless it is a very serious charge and then difficult to get unless you are on means tested benefits.

[whiskeryron]

//I still think his best way forward is to pass the hat around. Perhaps a brown one might be appropriate. //

V. Good Mikey.LOL.

[Baldric]

No they should not!

A couple of posters have said he's an Innocent Man, can I just remind them he was found 'Not Guilty' not Innocent!

[hc4361]

Baldric, we are all innocent unless found guilty.

[sir.prize]

Nigel Evans has a story in the Sunday paper - no doubt very well paid for it too. He says he thought of taking his own life. Really! Why would anyone do that? Hardly a thing that a person would do when they have nothing to hide.

[Svejk]

///Svejk, you try and get legal aid for a motoring offence. Not a hope unless it is a very serious charge and then difficult to get unless you are on means tested benefits.///

doc's question was about people pleading guilty because of the cost of defending yourself. I say that doesn't have to happen. you might decide to pay a £25 fine rather than accuse the police of lying. no one, innocent, would plead guilty to sexual offences because they might incur costs.

[DrFilth]

Svejk i know these are not sexual but people have pleaded guilty for tv licence evasion to save on legal fees and court costs hence why the tv salesmen have fiddled the 178 form

[anotheoldgit]

sir.prize

/// Why would anyone do that? Hardly a thing that a person would do when they have nothing to hide. ///

Not a matter of not having anything to hide, perhaps he thought his life was now not worth living simply because of the shame and financial ruin.

[ll_billym]

///He says he thought of taking his own life. Really! Why would anyone do that? Hardly a thing that a person would do when they have nothing to hide. ///

Because of course everyone that commit suicide has something to hide.

[viv38]

I don't think the taxpayer should pay, so no!

[hc4361]

I honestly don't know how anyone copes with the stress of being falsely accused of very serious offences especially when it can take well over a year from arrest to trial.

[mikey4444]

Thanks WR ! I nearly didn't bother making the joke, as it is a bit juvenile but I thought...b*gger it, I'm only 61, why not, I'll be too old soon !

[mikey4444]

sir.prize...the difficulty with trials like this is that Evans's name is mud now to a lot of people, irrespective of the verdict of the jury. After all mud sticks.
I think I can understand him when he says that he thought of taking his own life. I think he is wrong, and don't condone him but understand all the same.

Until we sort out this business of naming and shaming, this situation isn't going to go away. If the witnesses can have their identities kept hidden, I see no reason why the same courtesy cannot be given to the accused.