Appeal judges cut Van Colle damages

Damages of £50,000 awarded to the family of murdered optometrist Giles Van Colle have been slashed by half on appeal this week.

Last March High Court judge Justice Cox ruled that the Hertfordshire Constabulary had failed in its duty to protect Van Colle, who had been threatened by his killer, and awarded damages of £50,000.

Van Colle was gunned down in 2000 in Mill Hill, North London, before giving evidence against his former employee Daniel Brougham who was due to stand trial for theft. Brougham was jailed for life in March 2002 for the murder.

Lawyers for the family argued that Van Colle's human rights to private and family life had been infringed.