Killer of schoolboy Kriss in new taxpayer-funded appeal
THE racist ringleader of the gang that murdered schoolboy Kriss Donald yesterday launched a fresh bid to win thousands of pounds in damages for being locked in solitary confinement.
Imran “Baldy” Shahid, 38, was jailed for life after he was found guilty of the racially aggravated murder of Glasgow teenager Kriss in 2006.
Four years ago, the Court of Session rejected the thug’s bid to sue taxpayers for £6,000 over “degrading” treatment in prison.
Shahid launched a taxpayer-funded appeal yesterday against the decision at the Supreme Court in London.
Excluding yesterday’s case, the tax- paying public has been forced to foot a legal aid bill of £42,548 for Shahid to bring his human rights claim to court.
He claims he was “stressed” during four years and eight months spent in segregation.
Shahid listed “hearing voices” and being prohibited from attending communal prayers during Ramadan among his gripes about being kept in solitary confinement. But the Court of Session ruled that segregation was necessary for safety reasons.
The Scottish Government regularly granted applications to governors for the renewal of his segregation.
It also emerged Shahid had a TV in his cell and access to phones and gym equipment.
While out of solitary confinement in 2013, Shahid was battered over the head with a 15kg weight by convicted murderer William Crawford in the gym at Kilmarnock prison.
His latest legal bid has sparked anger over the amount of legal aid Shahid has been awarded to conduct his campaign.
Criminals, particularly ones convicted of very serious offences, shouldn’t be taking the justice system for a ride
Tory MSP Alex Johnstone said: “Criminals, particularly ones convicted of very serious offences, shouldn’t be taking the justice system for a ride.
“It’s regrettable this has cost the taxpayer so much money. The public find these elaborate instances totally unacceptable.”
Kriss was 15 when he was abducted, stabbed, doused in petrol and burned to death by a gang of Pakistani Muslims in Glasgow.
The killers fled to Pakistan in a bid to escape justice. There is no extradition treaty in place but a deal to bring them back to face trial was brokered by ex-Glasgow MP Mohammad Sarwar.
Shahid’s brother Zeeshan and Mohammed Mushtaq were also jailed for Kriss’s murder following a trial.
It is not yet known how much legal aid Shahid will claim for his latest appeal, but the Scottish Legal Aid Board said that his previous appeal to the Court of Session in 2011 cost £4,798.
The initial judicial review brought against Scottish Ministers cost £36,865.
Supreme Court officials said that the appeal, brought yesterday before Lord Neuberger, Lady Hale, Lord Sumption, Lord Reed and Lord Hodge, would be decided upon within the next nine to 12 weeks.
