10/03/2006

Murdered witness family receives £50,000

The family of a man shot dead before he was due to give evidence in a trial have been awarded £50,000 in damages.

Optician Giles Van Colle, 25, was shot dead at his shop in Mill Hill, north London in November 2000.

He had been due to give evidence at the trial of former employee Daniel Brougham, who was facing charges of theft from three companies, including Mr Van Colle's.

Brougham was later convicted of Mr Van Colle's murder.

It emerged that Mr Van Colle had endured repeated threats prior to the murder.

Mr Van Colle's parents had brought the legal action against Hertfordshire Police, claiming that they had "done nothing" to protect their son.

(KMcA/GB)


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