Murderer Graeme Burton. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The toll on the family of a man murdered by Graeme Burton has escalated as they may have to repay $19,000 in legal aid which was offered during the inquest into the killing.
Karl Kuchenbecker was shot and stabbed while quad biking on Wainuiomata Hill on January
6 last year as Burton went on a rampage around the Wellington region while avoiding police.
His former partner, who asked not to be named, told the Dominion Post she relied on the domestic purposes benefit to help raise their sons who were aged five and eight when they lost their father.
Legal Services Agency manager of legal aid grants Robyn Nicholas told the newspaper the $19,000 figure was a theoretical maximum for the four-day coroner's inquest and the true amount would likely be less.
The woman is able to apply for a writeoff and has been encouraged to do so.
She told the newspaper regardless of whether the bill was wiped, it was a shock to be asked to repay it at all.
Burton was shot in the leg during his arrest and received about $40,000 worth of medical care for an amputation and prosthetic leg at the taxpayer's expense.
Mr Kuchenbecker's father Paul told the Dominion Post it was astounding victims were being asked to pay while criminals often got a free ride.
"Victims do need to be represented. It's not their fault they're in the bloody inquest," he said.
Lawyer for the family Nikki Pender said it was important to honour the Victims Rights Act.
"It says you're entitled to legal services. It doesn't read you should be entitled to a loan to pay for your legal services."
- NZPA WGT nw ob
