§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Attorney-General what was the total cost to public funds of the legal proceedings recently taken against Jane Dixon at Plymouth Crown court. [10172]
The Solicitor-GeneralLegal proceedings against Jane Tucker involved a number of hearings on separate occasions in the magistrates court and the Crown court. The first trial in the Crown court had to be abandoned after three days when jurors were discharged. The retrial was held over four days.
The cost to the Crown Prosecution Service in instructing counsel to appear in the Crown court was £3,388.99 and I understand that the approximate cost to the Court Service of a day's hearing in the Crown court, including judge time, is £2,040. However, in assessing the total cost to public funds of all the proceedings it is also necessary to take account of (1) the cost of proceedings in the magistrates court and the administrative prosecution costs involved in processing the case, which are not available; and (2) defence costs, which I understand have not yet been submitted for taxation.