Parents of murdered OO to sue the police

Irwin and Corinne Van Colle have brought the action against the chief constable of Hertfordshire police and issued a writ for unlimited compensation under the Human Rights Act.
It has been reported that lawyers will argue that police did not take threats against the 25-year-old practitioner seriously. Van Colle owned a practice in Mill Hill Broadway and was about to testify against his eventual murderer in a theft trial.
The optometrist was shot and killed by a former employee on November 22, 2000. He had employed 'Lee Jordan' (also known as Daniel Brougham) as a technician but the employee walked out of his job after three months.
A statement issued by Van Colle's parents earlier this month said: 'It became apparent that Giles had employed a conman, who had given him a false name and references, and was a thief.
'Some weeks later, when raiding Jordan's home, Hertfordshire police found items stolen from Giles' practice and subsequently required Giles to be a prosecution witness in the Crown's case on November 27 2000. At the same time, Jordan was to answer to charges of deception and theft from two other former employers.
'During the summer and autumn of 2000 Giles and other witnesses received threats and other intimidatory acts, which were reported to Hertfordshire police.'
Daniel Brougham was found guilty of Van Colle's murder in March 2002 and sentenced to life imprisonment. During the course of the trial defence counsel severely criticised the conduct of a Hertfordshire policeman in the theft investigation. Irwin Van Colle Ð a senior councillor in Brent Council Ð and his wife subsequently made a complaint to the Police Complaints Authority which was investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary Professional Standards Unit. In June 2003, they were invited to attend a disciplinary hearing at which a police constable was charged with misconduct under four headings and found guilty under three of them.
'After taking legal advice on what they learnt at the disciplinary hearing and its outcome,' said the Van Colle statement, 'Councillor and Mrs Van Colle issued the writ for unlimited compensation under the Human Rights Act.' The couple said: 'Although society has achieved justice, we are not satisfied that we have had true accountability for losing Giles who was destined to be a much loved leader in society.
'We are very disappointed that Hertfordshire police have decided to defend this action, and we currently await with interest their reply to our writ.'
A spokesman for Hertfordshire police said it was not appropriate to comment at the moment.
david.challinorrbi.co.uk The parents of Giles Van Colle, the optometrist who was murdered three years ago, have issued a writ against the police for failing to protect him.
Irwin and Corinne Van Colle have brought the action against the chief constable of Hertfordshire police and issued a writ for unlimited compensation under the Human Rights Act.
It has been reported that lawyers will argue that police did not take threats against the 25-year-old practitioner seriously. Van Colle owned a practice in Mill Hill Broadway and was about to testify against his eventual murderer in a theft trial.
The optometrist was shot and killed by a former employee on November 22, 2000. He had employed 'Lee Jordan' (also known as Daniel Brougham) as a technician but the employee walked out of his job after three months.
A statement issued by Van Colle's parents earlier this month said: 'It became apparent that Giles had employed a conman, who had given him a false name and references, and was a thief.
'Some weeks later, when raiding Jordan's home, Hertfordshire police found items stolen from Giles' practice and subsequently required Giles to be a prosecution witness in the Crown's case on November 27 2000. At the same time, Jordan was to answer to charges of deception and theft from two other former employers.
'During the summer and autumn of 2000 Giles and other witnesses received threats and other intimidatory acts, which were reported to Hertfordshire police.'
Daniel Brougham was found guilty of Van Colle's murder in March 2002 and sentenced to life imprisonment. During the course of the trial defence counsel severely criticised the conduct of a Hertfordshire policeman in the theft investigation. Irwin Van Colle Ð a senior councillor in Brent Council Ð and his wife subsequently made a complaint to the Police Complaints Authority which was investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary Professional Standards Unit. In June 2003, they were invited to attend a disciplinary hearing at which a police constable was charged with misconduct under four headings and found guilty under three of them.
'After taking legal advice on what they learnt at the disciplinary hearing and its outcome,' said the Van Colle statement, 'Councillor and Mrs Van Colle issued the writ for unlimited compensation under the Human Rights Act.' The couple said: 'Although society has achieved justice, we are not satisfied that we have had true accountability for losing Giles who was destined to be a much loved leader in society.
'We are very disappointed that Hertfordshire police have decided to defend this action, and we currently await with interest their reply to our writ.'
A spokesman for Hertfordshire police said it was not appropriate to comment at the moment.
david.challinorrbi.co.uk