Millionaire Shoreham air crash pilot got £380k in legal aid while victims’ relatives fought for funding
THE millionaire pilot in the Shoreham air crash tragedy got legal aid worth £380,000 while victims’ relatives had to fight for funding.
Andrew Hill, 56, was cleared of the manslaughter of 11 men in 2015.
He received taxpayer-funded legal aid for his defence following a seven-week trial in 2019.
The disclosure, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, comes after victims’ families were told they will have to wait until at least February for an inquest to start.
Covid has already pushed it back from last September.
Families were only given help after a two-year battle with the Legal Aid Agency and many MPs pressing ex-PM Theresa May.
David Spencer of the Centre for Crime Prevention, said: “This case illustrates all too clearly how the legal aid system is skewed towards the accused rather than the victim.”
Lawyer Sarah Stewart, whose firm represents nine families, said: “They should be afforded the same privileges.”
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The Ministry of Justice, said: “Our thoughts remain with the families and the coroner will ask questions on their behalf to get them the answers they deserve.
"Anyone facing a crown court trial can get legal aid subject to a means test but the money goes direct to their lawyers.”