Wrongly accused Stagg awarded compensation

The Home Office has awarded £706,000 in damages to the man cleared of the murder of former model Rachel Nickell in 1992.

The Old Bailey threw out the case against Colin Stagg in 1994 on the grounds that the police had used a ‘honey trap’ to get a confession.

The 45-year-old had spent one year in custody over the murder of 23-year-old Ms Nickell who was stabbed 49 times when walking on Wimbledon Common with her two-year-old son.

In an attempt to build a case against Mr Stagg, who always denied the murder allegations, the Metropolitan Police used an undercover female officer who befriended him. Even after the case collapsed no one else was sought in connection with the murder.

A review of Ms Nickell’s murder last year resulted in the charge of Robert Napper, 41, who will face trial in November this year.

“I am feeling a sort of peace for the first time since my arrest 15 years ago. I am now slowly realising that I have a future after all, and that is a great feeling,” said Mr Stagg.

He was informed of his eligibility to compensation last year. The amount, awarded under a discretionary compensation scheme, was decided by independent assessor Lord Brennan, QC.

The offer was made in a letter from the Office of Criminal Justice.

“Naturally Colin is relieved and it will go some way to compensating him for the vilification that he has received at the hands of the public and media for the last 16 years,” said Alex Tribick, Mr Stagg`s solicitor.

Lord Brennan submitted a 70-page document supporting the award in which he described the police tactics as “highly unusual and legally bizarre”, stating that these factors had contributed to his decision to award the substantial sum.

“I am quite satisfied that this amounts to misconduct in the investigation and prosecution of this case and I categorise it egregious,” Lord Brennan concluded.

Mr Tribick said that an apology from the Metropolitan Police is what his client really wants, but accepted this is something Mr Stagg will “never get”.

“I am still coming to terms with all the implications that go with the award. I am not going on a spending spree. I plan to bank most of it. That is what I have got to live on for the rest of my life,” said Mr Stagg.