Three killers who gunned down a man in a cold-blooded execution have cost taxpayers £120,000 in legal aid. Thomas Duris, 28, Derek Felvus, 25, and James Baillie, 26, were all handed life sentences for the shooting of Graham Williamson in Blantyre, Lanarkshire.
Williamson, 26, was targeted in the garden of his home as he dealt with a recovery firm called to collect his burnt-out car. He was shot from behind with a sawn-off shotgun and later died in hospital.
The thugs were handed sentences totalling 67 years after being convicted of the August 2020 murder at the High Court in Glasgow. It has now emerged the gang were given £116,382 to fund their defence teams led by top lawyers including Ian Duguid QC and James Stephenson.
Duris, who carried out the fatal shooting, claimed £46,016. Felvus received £33,798 while getaway driver Baillie got £36,568.
But the final figures are expected to increase because firms have four months after the conclusion of proceedings to claim funds from the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB). Jurors watched CCTV footage of masked gunman Duris racing up the street and shooting Williamson in the back before jumping into a stolen Skoda getaway car.
The trial heard of a 'toxic feud' between drug dealer Felvus, Williamson and the victim's friends. Violence was sparked after Felvus was recorded hiding in a Chinese restaurant in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, after being confronted days before the killing.
The mobile phone clip was uploaded to social media with the caption: "S******g". Felvus then teamed up with his accomplices to stage a revenge attack on their victim.
Afterwards gunman Duris told an associate: "No one will want it any more. This will take us to another level."
The killers then fled to Edinburgh where it was said they 'bragged' about the deed to others. Felvus was also described as 'freaking out' and warning a man to keep quiet and get rid of mobile phones.#
Felvus claimed that Duris carried out the shooting but maintained that he was unaware that the gunman had a firearm. Jailing the trio at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Fairley said: "This was a premeditated murder organised and carried out by professional drug dealers to further their criminal interests."
Duris and Felvus were caged for a minimum of 23 years while Baillie was ordered to serve at least 21 years for the murder. A spokesperson for the Scottish Legal Aid Board said: "Legal aid is paid directly to lawyers to represent people accused of serious crimes to help ensure a jury can reach an appropriate verdict in a timely manner."
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