Prison poverty

I am seeking judicial review for a client who has been in prison for more than 32 years - a disturbing length of time no matter what the circumstances.

He was convicted of murder.

I completed the appropriate form seeking a representation order for judicial review to the High Court.

The application was returned because of the lack of information as to means.

Would common sense not dictate that after 32 years of serving a prison sentence he might be devoid of any means? Maybe the Legal Services Commission believes he might be saving up five or ten pence per week, and might by now be a multi-millionaire.

The sad truth is that he is penniless, he has been treated unfairly by the penal system and now these bureaucrats want him to fill in a form about his means.

Having contacted those in authority for making such decisions and re-iterating what was already before them within the body of the application, they simply said that the client would have to complete the means form with the word 'none'.

After 32 years in prison, what does another three or four weeks mean? A hell of a lot to the client.

A Gibson, Bert Gibson Stainsby O'Neill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne