A taxpayer-funded bid to have a dead killer cleared of murder has been branded “farcical”.
Solicitors for Thomas Ross Young believe he was wrongly convicted of a murder carried out by Angus Sinclair. His legal team have vowed to take his case to the Supreme Court in London, despite three Scottish judges rejecting their appeal earlier this year.
Figures released to The Sunday Post reveal more than £160,000 has already been paid out by the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) to fund Young’s legal case. His solicitors will continue to get cash until the case is concluded, despite the fact he died in July.
But the officer who led the investigation to convict Young questioned why the appeal was going to the to UK’s highest court.
Ex-murder squad detective Joe Jackson, who also helped convict Sinclair, said: “It’s terrible taxpayer money is being used to fight Young’s conviction. Thomas Ross Young was convicted and his appeal was also turned down. To still be fighting this is farcical.”
Young was jailed in 1977 for the killing of Frances Barker. She had been battered, strangled and dumped near fields in Lanarkshire. SLAB have paid out £162,309 to assist his legal fight already, but a final figure is likely to be considerably higher.
A spokesperson said: “An important part of the Scottish justice system is that those who can’t afford their own defence have access to legal advice and representation.
“In cases where the court has decided an authorised person can continue the appeal following the death of the appellant, legal aid continues to be available.
“Where a further appeal is required, a new application for legal aid needs to be made, and SLAB will assess any new application based on legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament.
“Financial eligibility for any new application will be based on the value of the deceased person’s estate.”
Sinclair, 69, was convicted last week of the World’s End murders in which he killed 17 year-olds Helen Scott and Christine Eadie. He was ordered to serve at least 37 years behind bars.
Following his conviction he was linked to the five more murders, including that of Frances Barker. However, items belonging to her were found in Young’s home.
His solicitor John McLeod believes “issues of wider public importance” are raised by the case which merit an approach to the Supreme Court.
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