Thread: 700k for years behind bars - enough?

t's like winning the lottery': Colin Stagg wins £700,000 payout over Rachel Nickell wrongful arrest


By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:50 PM on 13th August 2008

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Colin Stagg has been awarded £706,000 for his wrongful arrest and prosecution over the murder of Rachel Nickell, it has been revealed.

Stagg described the compensation from the Home Office today as 'like winning the lottery'.
Mr Stagg, 45, who spent a year in custody before being cleared in 1994, may now sue the Met.
Police tactics in building the case against him were described by the independent government assessor this afternoon as involving 'manipulation and deception, some of it of a highly reprehensible kind'.





Colin Stagg, who was accused of the murder of Rachel Nickell, has now received a massive £700,000 payout from the Home Office
The huge payout will certainly encourage Barry George and his legal team.

After he was wrongly convicted of the Jill Dando's murder he endured two separate trials and spent eight years behind bars.
It had previously been estimated George was in line for £500,000 in compensation although there is currently no limit on the amount that can be claimed.
However, after today's decision he will no doubt expect considerably more than that.

Miss Nickell, 23, a part-time model, was on Wimbledon Common with her two-year-old son in July 1992 when she was attacked and stabbed 49 times.

Mr Stagg, a loner who lived nearby, was arrested and charged but walked free when an Old Bailey judge threw out the case.

Police had relied on evidence from an undercover policewoman who befriended Mr Stagg through a lonely hearts column.
Rachel Nickell pictured in July 1992.

Lord Brennan, QC, who granted the award, described the police tactics as 'highly unusual and legally bizarre' and said they had contributed directly to his conclusion over the size of the payout.

He concluded : 'I am quite satisfied that this amounts to misconduct in the investigation and prosecution of this case and I categorise it egregious.'
The award is thought to be a record in a case of wrongful arrest.
Last year Robert Napper, 42, was charged with the murder of Miss Nickell.

His trial is due to start at the Old Bailey in November.
Mr Stagg said he believed today's decision was the official vindication for being vilified for so long as someone who had 'got away with murder' .
He said: 'I have endured that stigma for 15 years. It's fair to say it has ruined my life, yet until now I have never received the slightest apology from the authorities for my ordeal.'
Speaking from his west London home, he admitted that the size of the payout had not yet sunk in.


'I admit I got a bit emotional. It means so much to me. A lot of wild figures had been bandied about, but what I wanted more than money was for people to realise they got it wrong.




More...

• Stagg 'lived under suspicion for years' until new suspect was charged

'I thought the Establishment would just make a token payment, but this is like winning the lottery. What pleases me even more than the money is that this is effectively a public apology.'
Enlarge
Rachel Nickell in a picture from 1992 with her boyfriend Andre Hanscombe and their baby son Alex

His solicitor Alex Tribick said they would now consider launching a compensation claim against the Met.

But senior police officers believe Mr Stagg may have missed the legal deadline.
He said his client had been celebrating with a cup of tea and just wanted to "get on with the rest of his life."
Mr Stagg added: 'I've no doubt there will be still be people who resent me getting this public payout - and some who actually still believe I'm guilty of murder. But over the years I've come to terms with my life - such as it is.
'The award is going to make a huge difference. I'm not going on a spending spree.

'I would like to buy my council flat, and I want to put in a new bathroom and kitchen and make a few changes in the garden.'

Only 700k - like winning the lottery?

Fucking idiot

Dunno Q, its a tidy sum and gives the guy plenty of options. I heard the un national lottery was on its arse these days anyway, those 20mil prizes are long gone.

Initially I thought it said 8 years behind bars.

But I was mistaken.

Still not a lot if you are lower class, a few kappa track suits and cans of stella and it will be gone.

^ Yeah maybe, but given the penchance for Thailand by the uk's less-than-savoury-newly-monied blokes I think he'll be in Pattaya within a week buying up a beer bar and wearing loud shirts with parrots on them.

£700k for one year in jail? lesee, at the current rate that's $1.4 million? FOR ONE FUCKING YEAR???

Where do I sign?

^ Yes frankie, exactly! although the uk pounds on its arse right now so your only getting 1.31 million $

Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

t's like winning the lottery': Colin Stagg wins £700,000 payout over Rachel Nickell wrongful arrest


By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:50 PM on 13th August 2008

• Comments (27)
• Add to My Stories

Colin Stagg has been awarded £706,000 for his wrongful arrest and prosecution over the murder of Rachel Nickell, it has been revealed.

Stagg described the compensation from the Home Office today as 'like winning the lottery'.
Mr Stagg, 45, who spent a year in custody before being cleared in 1994, may now sue the Met.
Police tactics in building the case against him were described by the independent government assessor this afternoon as involving 'manipulation and deception, some of it of a highly reprehensible kind'.





Colin Stagg, who was accused of the murder of Rachel Nickell, has now received a massive £700,000 payout from the Home Office
The huge payout will certainly encourage Barry George and his legal team.

After he was wrongly convicted of the Jill Dando's murder he endured two separate trials and spent eight years behind bars.
It had previously been estimated George was in line for £500,000 in compensation although there is currently no limit on the amount that can be claimed.
However, after today's decision he will no doubt expect considerably more than that.

Miss Nickell, 23, a part-time model, was on Wimbledon Common with her two-year-old son in July 1992 when she was attacked and stabbed 49 times.

Mr Stagg, a loner who lived nearby, was arrested and charged but walked free when an Old Bailey judge threw out the case.

Police had relied on evidence from an undercover policewoman who befriended Mr Stagg through a lonely hearts column.
Rachel Nickell pictured in July 1992.

Lord Brennan, QC, who granted the award, described the police tactics as 'highly unusual and legally bizarre' and said they had contributed directly to his conclusion over the size of the payout.

He concluded : 'I am quite satisfied that this amounts to misconduct in the investigation and prosecution of this case and I categorise it egregious.'
The award is thought to be a record in a case of wrongful arrest.
Last year Robert Napper, 42, was charged with the murder of Miss Nickell.

His trial is due to start at the Old Bailey in November.
Mr Stagg said he believed today's decision was the official vindication for being vilified for so long as someone who had 'got away with murder' .
He said: 'I have endured that stigma for 15 years. It's fair to say it has ruined my life, yet until now I have never received the slightest apology from the authorities for my ordeal.'
Speaking from his west London home, he admitted that the size of the payout had not yet sunk in.


'I admit I got a bit emotional. It means so much to me. A lot of wild figures had been bandied about, but what I wanted more than money was for people to realise they got it wrong.




More...

• Stagg 'lived under suspicion for years' until new suspect was charged

'I thought the Establishment would just make a token payment, but this is like winning the lottery. What pleases me even more than the money is that this is effectively a public apology.'
Enlarge
Rachel Nickell in a picture from 1992 with her boyfriend Andre Hanscombe and their baby son Alex

His solicitor Alex Tribick said they would now consider launching a compensation claim against the Met.

But senior police officers believe Mr Stagg may have missed the legal deadline.
He said his client had been celebrating with a cup of tea and just wanted to "get on with the rest of his life."
Mr Stagg added: 'I've no doubt there will be still be people who resent me getting this public payout - and some who actually still believe I'm guilty of murder. But over the years I've come to terms with my life - such as it is.
'The award is going to make a huge difference. I'm not going on a spending spree.

'I would like to buy my council flat, and I want to put in a new bathroom and kitchen and make a few changes in the garden.'

Only 700k - like winning the lottery?

Fucking idiot

"'I admit I got a bit emotional. It means so much to me. A lot of wild figures had been bandied about, but what I wanted more than money was for people to realise they got it wrong."

It wasn't the money that was like winning the lottery. It was the vindication. Might be a good idea to read the articles you post before commenting on them.

Originally Posted by Spin

uk pounds on its arse right now so your only getting 1.31 million

Maybe I can get time off for the poor exchange rate?

Originally Posted by lysander

Stagg described the compensation from the Home Office today as 'like winning the lottery'.

Originally Posted by lysander

It wasn't the money that was like winning the lottery. It was the vindication. Might be a good idea to read the articles you post before commenting on them.

What are you fucking stupid or something. Is English not your first language? We can make allowances for that?

Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

After he was wrongly convicted of the Jill Dando's murder he endured two separate trials and spent eight years behind bars.

Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

who spent a year in custody before being cleared in 1994,

Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

He said: 'I have endured that stigma for 15 years. It's fair to say it has ruined my life, yet until now I have never received the slightest apology from the authorities for my ordeal.'

It did say he spent 8 years behind bars.....

He must have got some bonuses for dropping the soap ...

Sawasdee ka, and welcome to Thailand Mr. Colin.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

It did say he spent 8 years behind bars.....

Not him. There are (confusingly) 2 people & cases mentioned in the article.

Originally Posted by Mrs Q

The huge payout will certainly encourage Barry George and his legal team. After he was wrongly convicted of the Jill Dando's murder he endured two separate trials and spent eight years behind bars. It had previously been estimated George was in line for £500,000 in compensation although there is currently no limit on the amount that can be claimed.

^ I was bleary eyed when I read it this morning. I was sure I read 8 years. Then I read one year.

I knew I had read he thought it was like winning the lottery though.

That is one confusing article. Although I am a bit blurry eyed right now myself.

After he was wrongly convicted of the Jill Dando's murder he endured two separate trials and spent eight years behind bars.

It seems he was wrongly convicet of killing Jill Dando and falsley accused of killing Rachel Nickell. So he was Bunged up on 2 different murder charges. No?

Colin Stagg - accused of murdering Rachel Nickell 1 year in jail £700,000 payout
Barry George - accused of murdering Jill Dando 8 years in jail, claim to be made.

2 seperate cases.

Stagg wins £700,000 'lottery' payout but son who saw Rachel Nickell murdered gets just £90,000

By Arthur Martin and Charlotte Gill
Last updated at 12:38 AM on 14th August 2008

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Compensation: Colin Stagg with the Home Office letter

The man cleared of murdering Rachel Nickell spoke last night of his delight at being awarded a record £706,000 damages for the police blunders which ruined his life.
Colin Stagg, 45, described the payout as 'like winning the lottery'.
His only immediate spending plans were to buy his council flat and put in a new kitchen and bathroom.
Mr Stagg spent 13 months in custody and had his reputation torn to pieces before a judge threw out the case. But he still endured more than a decade of speculation that he was, in fact, the killer.
Last year Robert Napper was charged with the murder. He will stand trial in November.
The Home Office payout - a record for someone wrongly charged - is certain to provoke a debate over the compensation system for victims of crime.
It dwarfs the amount paid to Miss Nickell's son Alex, who witnessed her murder at the age of two. It took a seven-year legal battle before the youngster, now living abroad with his father, was awarded £90,000 for trauma and loss of the services of a mother.
Lawyers for Mr Stagg last night refused to rule out further legal action. Solicitor, Alex Tribick, said they would consider suing the Metropolitan Police.
Miss Nickell, 23, a former part-time model, was on Wimbledon Common in South West London with Alex in 1992 when she was stabbed 49 times and sexually assaulted in broad daylight.


A year after the killing, police charged Mr Stagg following a controversial 'honeytrap' operation involving an undercover woman detective who was used to encourage him to make a confession.
Stagg sent her letters fantasising about perverted sex involving knives and bondage. Crucially, however, he never confessed to Miss Nickell's murder.
The case was thrown out at the Old Bailey in 1994 when a judge lambasted the police methods.


Rachel Nickell pictured in July 1992.
Despite his acquittal. Mr Stagg - who has a conviction for a minor sex crime - claimed the stigma of the case made him unemployable and a 'national hate figure'.
Mr Stagg's legal team submitted a 70-page compensation claim after the Home Office told him he was eligible under a discretionary payout scheme. The offer came in a letter from the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

How events unfolded over 16 years


The amount was decided by Lord Brennan QC, an independent government assessor, who described the police tactics in building the case as involving 'manipulation and deception, some of it of a highly reprehensible kind' and said they had contributed directly to the size of the payout.
He said prosecution of the case had been 'egregious'.
Speaking outside his council flat in Roehampton, West London, last night Mr Stagg said: 'It hasn't sunk in properly yet. I thought at first my solicitor was joking.
'I thought the Establishment would make a token payment, but this is like winning the lottery. But what pleases me more than the money is that this is effectively a public apology.
'I've no doubt there will still be people who resent me getting it and some who actually believe I'm guilty. But over the years, I've come to terms with my life, such as it is.'
Mr Stagg has spoken of his desire to set up a landscape gardening business with his payout. He has previously expressed a wish to start a family with his girlfriend of two years, Terri Marchant, and hopes of starring on a reality TV show.

He said: 'The best thing is being able to get off the dole. I am a proud man who has never been afraid of work, but nobody in the countless interviews I have attended has wanted to take me on.
'Now I can work and I've got some small business ideas. I am slowly realising that I have a future after all and that is a great feeling.'
Mr Tribick said: 'It will go some way to compensating him for the vilification that he has received for the least 16 years, though Colin is realistic enough to realise that, in some people's eyes, he will always be the bloke who got away with murder.'
The compensation cost of the Nickell case to the taxpayer is rapidly approaching £1million.
The officer involved in securing Mr Stagg's confession received £200,000 after it was accepted she should have been given counselling following her 'harrowing and dangerous assignment'.


Enlarge Rachel Nickell in a picture from 1992 with her boyfriend Andre Hanscombe and their baby son Alex

Same day. Different article. Same topic.

Confused.

Yes I am.

Originally Posted by walrus

He must have got some bonuses for dropping the soap ...

Is that why they're called soap dodgers ?

Looks like a case of lazy police work. Find someone in the area on the sex offenders list, knock them about a bit and charge them. Yes he deserves the cash though it wouldn't buy him an apartment in London.

Originally Posted by kingwilly

It did say he spent 8 years behind bars

Drink More Coffee, re-read article. Eight years is for another dude that is tickled pink this guy got 700K for ONE YEAR, with his eight years this would seem to indicate a settlement of about 5.6 Mil

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

Drink More Coffee, re-read article. Eight years is for another dude that is tickled pink this guy got 700K for ONE YEAR, with his eight years this would seem to indicate a settlement of about 5.6 Mil

plus 200k or so to a random police officer for some stupid reason

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

Drink More Coffee, re-read article. Eight years is for another dude that is tickled pink this guy got 700K for ONE YEAR, with his eight years this would seem to indicate a settlement of about 5.6 Mil

oh yes. ic.

ate some chilli steak, that seems to have helped...

700,000 for 1 YEAR in prison, I wouldn't hesitate for a second if I had the chance to do that.

However, he didn't know he was going to be released and must have gone through hell knowing he was innocent and convicted of murder.

He should sue and get rich !

I'm betting 99% of posters here couldn't do a year's bird in the UK.

Originally Posted by Spin

given the penchance for Thailand by the uk's less-than-savoury-newly-monied blokes I think he'll be in Pattaya within a week

So what's 'less than savoury' about this gentleman then? One of the reasons he was awarded the payout was because he would always be seen as 'less than savoury' by people like you.