Charlie Gard supporters slam ‘disgraceful’ legal aid system after it emerges Stephen Lawrence’s killer received £10,000 while ill tot’s parents got NOTHING
SUPPORTERS of Charlie Gard have blasted the “broken” court system after a racist killer was granted legal aid while the tot’s parents were denied support.
Evil murderer David Norris, one of the thugs who stabbed Stephen Lawrence to death in 1993, has been given public funding for his court battle against prison chiefs after he was attacked by other lags.
And his legal fees could cost the British taxpayer £70,000 while Chris Gard and Connie Yates were denied legal aid in their high court fight to save their son’s life.
The brave parents local MP, Labour’s Seema Malhotra, last night slammed the legal system, reports
She said: “It’s clear it needs overhauling. The heartbreaking case of Charlie Gard highlights why it’s wrong for parents facing this situation to not have access to legal support or for there to be so much uncertainty.”
Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesman Ed Davey said: “This shows the legal aid system is broken and urgently needs to be fixed.”
MOST READ IN NEWS
Chris and Connie, from Bedfont, West London, crowdfunded cash from wellwishers and relied on big hearted lawyers who worked for free in their failed battle against Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Labour’s justice spokesman in the House of Lords, Jeremy Beecham, said: “The whole system has been massively undermined in the last few years. Many people have been completely denied access to justice.
“That certainly sounds to be the case in the case of this poor kid’s family. It is the sort of case where they should have had legal aid.”
Charlie’s parents ended their fight on Monday accepting that US therapy could not save the brain damaged tot who is suffering from mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.
Meanwhile, Norris claims he was targeted by three black inmates, who used a knife and a sock full of tin cans.
He reportedly suffered a broken nose and cuts to his face, as well as black eyes, broken ribs and lasting psychological effects.
Norris, 40, is now suing the Government for £10,000 after he was beaten up in prison, claiming they failed to protect him.
Norris, jailed for life in 2012, was found covered in blood in his cell.
He was attacked while on remand at Belmarsh in 2011, awaiting trial.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours