Almost $200,000 spent on defence
Convicted murderer Sainey Marong unsuccessfully fought his sentence all the way to the Supreme Court – costing taxpayers almost $200,000 in legal fees in the process.
Marong killed Christchurch woman Renee Duckmanton and set her body alight near Rakaia in May 2016.
During his trial, the court heard Marong had been fixated on the idea of abducting and killing a sex worker.
Marong was sentenced in April 2018 to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 18 years. He filed an appeal against his minimum term of imprisonment in the Court of Appeal, and then in the Supreme Court.
Figures released by the Ministry of Justice show $189,571 has been spent on Marong’s legal aid bill. The costs are still to be finalised.
Most of the money ($168,888) was spent on Marong’s murder trial.
Marong argued to the Court of Appeal that the sentencing judge had erred in his findings, but the application was dismissed in May. He then took his case to the Supreme Court, claiming there had been amiscarriage of justice.
However his latest appeal was thrown out by the Supreme Court earlier this week.
Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesperson Jess McVicar said the cost of Marong’s legal aid bill was ‘‘appalling’’.
She questioned why such an enormous amount of taxpayer money could be spent on one person’s legal aid, when victims did not get the same support.
‘‘Victims are only allowed 30 counselling sessions, they only get a little help towards funerals – how does that balance out?’’
McVicar also questioned whether defendants should be allowed legal aid for appeal applications, especially when they were not appealing their conviction.
Marong will be eligible for parole in 2036.