Killers who murdered vulnerable man before dumping body cost taxpayers £40k in legal aid
Three killers who lured a vulnerable man to a flat and then repeatedly stabbed him have cost taxpayers almost £40,000 in legal aid.
Amanda Welsh, 49, Connor Thomas, 29, and Laura McHugh, 32, targeted Joseph McGready in a vicious attack.
He was accused of theft and then set upon by the three thugs at the property in Maryhill, Glasgow, before he was dumped in a communal close.
The callous trio denied murder but were convicted at the High Court in Glasgow and jailed for life.
Welsh was handed a minimum of 17-and-a-half years, Thomas ordered to serve 18 years and McHugh given 17 years.
It has now emerged the killers have so far been given £37,760 in legal aid to fund their defence teams.
McHugh was given £19,462 while Welsh was handed £12,472 and Thomas got £5,826.
But the figures are likely to increase further as solicitors have four months following the conclusion of proceedings to claim payments from the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB).
Their trial heard Mr McGready had called for help as he was being struck but was left bleeding as his killers fled in September 2023.
Welsh and McHugh later spent the night in a hotel while their victim passed away days later in hospital.
McHugh later told detectives there had been a 'free for all' at her flat but denied being responsible.
She claimed Welsh initially slashed Mr McGready before Thomas struck him 'five or six times'.
McHugh claimed she had been 'terrified' but admitted helping lift Mr McGready from the flat and putting him on the landing.
Mr McGready was said to have pleaded: "Please stop, please stop."
Welsh admitted slashing Mr McGready, but denied any further attack.
Judge Lord Matthews told the trio the 'untimely and needless loss' of Mr McGready had caused 'incalculable' grief to his friends and family.
A spokesperson for SLAB said: " Legal aid is paid directly to legal representatives to ensure the defence of those accused of serious and sometimes reprehensible crimes is properly prepared, to minimise delays in trials and to help ensure a jury can reach an appropriate verdict."
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