A recent 5 month trial cost £20m. How does a trial rack up such a high cost?
2007-02-14 21:14:46 · 8 answers · asked by MinaF 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
For a start, the Legal People charge absolutely ridiculous rates.
Then, they all get together in a big room (the only time this ever happens) and decide on which key people are needed at the trial.
Then, they all get their diaries out to see if these key people have any holidays, appointments for haircuts, shopping trips, duvet days, or any other silly, minor appointments.
If not, then they fill the diary with these sorts of appointments so that when the court dates are set, the key people are not in attendance.
Then, any evidence which needs to be at the trial is 'missing' (or is with one of the key people that is now merrily having their legs waxed in a beauty salon somewhere.
Or paperwork is not filled in correctly.
Or paperwork is missing.
Or people just don't bother to turn up.
And sometimes, on a realy good day, you get all elements above happen at once. These are the days that the CPS and the Police and all the other key people give themselves a hearty pat on the back and a loud 'guffaw' for wasting some more tax-payers (or persons) money.
I am speaking from personal experience. I recently had the pleasure of having to attend Her Majesty's Court and had to appear TEN times over a course of about eight months before a resolution was found...and this was for a piffling driving offence that I feel could have been dealt with very quickly. (I was found Not Guilty by the way. I WAS THERE EVERY TIME, SO WHY WEREN'T THEY?
And this was only one person. Imagine the logistics of trying to get fifty people into court at the same time!
If a case were thrown out of court if a key prosecution witness was not present in court for any reason other than death, then this 'service' would soon buck it's ideas up.
The system is a joke and it doesn't work.That's why it costs us so much. It's a pity that they can't spend some more money at the back end of the system on those that are found not guilty. I can't even bring myself to tell you the trifling amount you are allowed to claim back for a 'day in court'.
2007-02-14 21:38:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is kind of a con job. 5 month trial is a biggie and probably has 90 lawyers working on it. how much in salary and benefits does it cost to pay these people to work on this case? then; how much in salary and benefits does it cost to pay these same people to work on other cases as part of there job. same thing.
2007-02-15 11:08:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apart from the lawyers and judges there is court staff,security,witnesse expensenses,costs for juries,the general overheads at the court itself and expert witnesses can cost a fortune for their expert opinions and research.
2007-02-15 05:28:16 · answer #3 · answered by frankturk50 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lawyers fees, court costs, paying the court staff, security guards, transport costs, hotels for the jury to stay in. It all adds up.
2007-02-15 05:19:33 · answer #4 · answered by selkent 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
paying all those pointless lawyers money to argue over what the law is!
In the end justice isn't done because the asylum seeker who kills a child doesn't speak english and therefore doesn't understand gets let off with a warning etc..
2007-02-15 05:22:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good lawyers cost lots
2007-02-15 05:17:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Q.C. and lawyers fees make up most of it
2007-02-15 05:18:25 · answer #7 · answered by man with the golden gun 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
lawyers gouge.
2007-02-15 05:23:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋