A psychopath who brutally butchered her pal to death for money was handed £166,000 in legal aid to defend herself.
Jemma Mitchell received the benefit despite having a family home said in court to be worth £4million.
Her legal aid payout is almost the same as the amount over which she killed pensioner Mee Kuen Chong.
Mitchell, 38, persuaded the mentally ill 67-year-old to lend her £200,000 to repair her home but murdered her in June 2021 when she changed her mind.
She chopped her head off and stuffed her remains into a suitcase before dumping them in woods.
The murderer, described in court as a property developer, also forged her friend’s will in an attempt to get her hands on nearly £700,000.
Mitchell’s former best pal Keren Gjuretek said she was speechless when told how much legal aid she got.
She added: “What happened was disgusting. I am disappointed so much money has been taken from taxpayers to support Jemma.
“The tax that goes to the Government should not go to murderers. It’s absolutely sickening.”
An Old Bailey judge sentenced Mitchell to life with a minimum of 34 years after a trial last October.
It heard the Australian-born former osteopath – who was trained in human dissection – met her victim, known as Deborah, at a church group and acted as her spiritual healer.
She hatched her plan after builders ripped her off for £230,000 over the revamp of a house she shared with her mum in Willesden, North London.
Deborah initially agreed to help with a loan but backed out – urging her pal in a text to sell the house and “enjoy the money life is too short”.
Mitchell beat her to death at her home in Wembley, North West London, and was captured on CCTV leaving it with two large suitcases.
She dumped the body at Salcombe, Devon, where walkers found it.
Sentencing her, Judge Richard Marks KC said “extremely devious” Mitchell had shown no remorse.
“The enormity of your crime is profoundly shocking, even more so given your apparent religious devotion as well as the fact that Deborah Chong was a good friend to you and had shown you good kindness,” he said.
The Legal Aid Agency said: “Legal aid is paid to solicitors and barristers to ensure a fair trial. Anyone facing a crown court trial is eligible for legal aid, subject to a strict means test.
“Applicants can be required to pay contributions if they are convicted.”
