Barry George Compensation Review

The man who was locked up behind bars for eight years but then acquitted over the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando has won the first part of his bid for compensation. Barry George aged 50 was sentenced in July 2001 but was then released eight years later in 2008; this was after he was granted a retrial which then acquitted him. A High Court decision has no stated that he is entitled to a judicial review hearing over the government decision to refuse him compensation of up to 500,000. Jill Dando was shot, aged 37, outside her home in South West London in April 1999. In March of the year Barry George from Fulham was refused compensation by the then Justice Secretary Jack Straw, a judge also turned down his request to have a judicial review. The court papers which have been submitted state that Mr George now suffers from post traumatic stress disorder as a result of the wrongful conviction of Jill Dandos murder. The barrister representing Barry George has stated that how well he will recover will depend upon his financial circumstances, and that he is unlikely to ever obtain paid work. It has also been stated that Mr George suffers from Aspergers syndrome, epilepsy and also learning difficulties. When the High Court judge stated a hearing should take place, it was also stated that it must wait until the Supreme Court makes a ruling over similar cases next year. The Supreme Court will hear three appeals next year in February and the focus will surround what the phrase miscarriage of justice actually stands for.