Now that they are back in the UK, they are entitled to legal aid irrespective of their incomes and they are entitled to it under "The Interests of Justice test" which determines whether an applicant should receive legal aid based on the merits of the case and whether by denying them representation this would lead to a miscarriage of justice. The rules for civil and criminal legal aid are really not the same at all!! Civil Legal Aid if means tested.Anyway see link:
http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/docs/cds_main/IofJJusticeGuidanceFinalVersion060607.pdf
They are back in the UK. They can instruct any firm of solicitors to act for them...... BUT, the reason they want more money is that they DO NOT WANT ANY OLD SOLICITORS FIRM, they want the best firm and possibly a couple of QC's for this for which they WOULD NOT RECEIVE legal aid.
So why should they be entitled to better representation then any of us... and at the publics' expense as well?
2007-09-12 22:44:11 · 23 answers · asked by Bored now.. 2 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
*** Despite the fact they are not going into the fund to pay the legal expenses I can bet you that they will set up another fund to plea for our money within the next coyuple of weeks*** If we were charged with a serious offence we have to go to our local High Street solicitors firm and take what we are given in terms of Barristers. but they want everyone to pay for their top notch legal team!!!****
2007-09-12 22:45:58 · update #1
They do nto have to have legal aid in Portugal. Once they are in the UK and instruct a firm of solicitors, legal aid in THIS COUNTRY would pay for overseas represetation.
2007-09-12 22:54:32 · update #2
Wilfred B - You need to go back to school. I know for a fact they can get legal aid in the UK to represent them in Portugal. How stupid are you!!!
2007-09-12 22:55:42 · update #3
Clavin - You stated "Who says you wouldn't seek out the best barrister you could afford if you were in their position". THE POINT IS THAT THEY ARE SEEKING OUT THE BEST LAWYERS THAT "WE" CAN AFFORD. THEY WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR IT!!!!
2007-09-12 22:57:09 · update #4
They know they've had it & need the best they, sorry we, can afford to get them.
They've got a £600,000 house, surely they don't need 2 scrounge?!
2007-09-12 23:01:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
Are you lot kidding me!! Do you think they are worried about money at this moment in time when their daughter has disappeared and for the rest of their lives they will have to live with the consequences. How do you know if Richard Branson doesn't give pots of money to charities anyway. You see, every body is jealous yet they have become successful by hard work and taking risks, just so everybody can try taking it all away with them. If it wasn't for these people earning shed loads and paying taxes at 40% this country would be bust. Whilst the father of Madelaine is busy trying to find his daughter he is not working which means another hospital and it's patients suffering as well. This man is a top doctor for god's sake. The Portuguese police are an embarrassment. Bungling idiots. My wife's friend married a Portuguese man and moved over there. when she had a baby it was a blond boy and his family said to her that she should never leave the boy out of her sight because babies like that get stolen. Remember Ben going missing in Spain all those years ago - never to be found. A blond baby over their is like a golden ticket to a certain travelling community.
2016-05-18 04:04:48 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People lets not be niaeve, of course they were asking for money from the fund. It was the directors that used their heads and said NO. Why would they even have the meeting if they weren't trying to solicite the funds. They could just pick-up the phone and say, "we don't want the money for our legal problems" no meeting needed. I for one wouldn't donate a pence. They're doctors they pay their own way, sell their house.
2007-09-12 23:48:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Apparently Legal Aid is not available if the relevant case is being held other than in England or Wales.
2007-09-12 23:02:05 · answer #4 · answered by nontarzaniccaulkhead 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Agree with everything you have written, well put across, they should pay for their own defense. However, I object to the part about 'why should they be entitled to better representation than any of us'.
Who says you wouldn't seek out the best barrister you could afford if you were in their position? Also, who says it is at the public's expense? That is all just hear-say and assumption on your part.
JT - I asked a question 'Who says it is at the public's expense?' Since you are unable to name your source/post a link, I stand by what I said that it's pure rumour and hear-say you are quoting here.
2007-09-12 22:55:25 · answer #5 · answered by Calvin 2 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Before they start applying for anymore funds, the 'Find Madeleine Appeal Fund' should be frozen. If they are both found guilty of killing Madeleine, they should then be charged with 'Obtaining money by deception from the public.'
2007-09-12 23:25:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Good point, now that they lost control of the situation lets open another one for ourselves, "we still believe she's alive" but came back home and leave her there.
If she appears maybe she would like a cuddle from her "parents"?
This is not about little Madeleine any more is it?
How money can overtake LOVE for your daughter.
And a "Lawyer" who charges £450 to £700 per hour?
I thought they were nearly without money... America, Vatican... and there and there and there...
And specialised in Extradition? (coincidence here maybe?)
If I knew I didn't kill my daughter any Lawyer would prove that.
You are very direct and with good information thank you for that.
2007-09-12 23:02:51 · answer #7 · answered by Tim 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Whether they can or can't get legal aid seems beside the point - either way they want 'us' to pay for their representation either via legal aid (we all pay for that!) or by donation to a campaign!
2007-09-12 23:16:23 · answer #8 · answered by groovymaude 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
They can get any legal aid but they're celebrities now (that was their intention from the beginning) so they want one of those celebrities lawyers who looks so good in front of the media.
Of course they will get money from the fund (their relatives is in charge, so who is going to stop them) or any silly newspaper will help them to pay.
2007-09-12 23:00:05 · answer #9 · answered by anthony j 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I think you answered your own question
They don't want some legal aid solictor that's used to representing chav's on a shoplifting case .
I wonder if a top solictor will still try and get you off the hook even if they know you are guity , Is it all about the money ?
If the trial is held in the UK that is
2007-09-12 22:53:05 · answer #10 · answered by Rik D 4 · 1⤊ 5⤋
You answered your own question there!
Legal aid solicitors are sometimes not very good, so they don't want to have to rely on them when they could try and raise the money to get the best solicitors out there.
I think it's wrong,they should get what they're given and deal with it!
They just want the best solicitor to get them off the hook and it's wrong
2007-09-12 22:54:40 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 5⤋