Legal aid supplied to the man who escaped a murder conviction after beating elderly gay Onehunga man Ronald Brown to death cost just on $170,000. Hungarian tourist Ferdinand Ambach, charged with Brown's murder, used the 'gay panic' defense and was instead found guilty of Brown's manslaughter. He is due back in court for sentencing at the end of this month. Figures released under the Official Information Act show prisoners in New Zealand cost $248.62 per day to house and feed. Based on this figure and the fact that Ambach has been in custody since the night of the brutal killing, his 'accommodation' costs have already amounted to over $21,000. Justice minister Simon Power, who will tomorrow give the first reading of his anti'gay panic' bill - formally titled the Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Ammendment Bill - in Parliament, says everyone regardless of nationality is entitled to a fair trial and should be able to apply for legal aid. He says requiring foreigners who commit crimes to serve their sentences in New Zealand is an important part of maintaining the credibility of the justice system.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 17th August 2009 - 11:23pm