Outrage as Kriss killers sue for being placed in solitary

Imran “Baldy” Shahid, 33, Zeeshan “Crazy” Shahid, 32, and Mohammed “Becks” Mushtaq, 34, were segregated to protect them from other inmates revolted by their racist crime.

But now they are claiming being cooped up has caused them mental anguish and have launched a legal bid for thousands of pounds in compensation for a breach in their human rights.

All three have asked for Legal Aid to fight their cases, but a decision on them being given cash from the public purse to pay lawyers is still to be taken.

The moves come after similar court actions by convicted murderers Andrew Somerville and Ricardo Blanco, who secured £2,100 each of public money last year after the prison authorities agreed to settle their claims.

Labour’s justice spokesman, Richard Baker, described the move as “distasteful”, adding: “Every effort should be made to prevent this claim.”

Victims’ rights campaigner Billy Thomson said: “It already costs the taxpayer to keep these men in prison. The idea that they could receive any compensation from our pockets is outrageous.”

A source close to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “He is determined to fight this every step of the way.

“We will do everything we can to ensure these men do not see a penny of public cash.”

The three men were part of a gang that snatched Kriss, 15, from a street near his Glasgow home in 2004.

Imran Shahid had been outraged at having a bottle thrown at him at a nightclub the previous evening, and Kriss, who had nothing to do with the incident, was targeted simply because he was white.

The gang held him prisoner for several hours, before stabbing him repeatedly and setting him on fire while he was still alive. He staggered from the scene before collapsing and dying.

The three killers tried to cheat justice by fleeing to Pakistan, but were brought back to Scotland and sentenced to life at the High Court in Edinburgh.