£500,000 cost of botched murder probe

A botched murder probe that led to five men being acquitted of a gangland killing cost police almost £500,000, it was revealed today.

Drug dealer Kevin Nunes was shot dead in Pattingham and led to jail sentences totalling 135 years for those accused of his murder.

But their convictions were quashed earlier this month following the release of a report detailing blunders by Staffordshire Police.

The Express & Star has learned that the six-year murder probe into Mr Nunes' killing – which involved 180 officers and inquiries made as far afield as Jamaica – cost £496,000.

Figures released by the force following a Freedom of Information request show that £254,324 was spent on overtime costs.

A further £105,991 was spent on forensics, 59,435 on vehicle costs, £33,910 on hotels and travel and a further £33,910 on legal services. Another £6,161 was spent on general supplies.

The true cost of the investigation is believed to be far more but the force does not calculate how much was spent on the day-to-day duties of those who would have been working anyway.

Amateur footballer Mr Nunes, 20, was found dead in a country lane in Pattingham after being shot five times in 2002.

The men jailed for his killing were 28-year-olds Adam Joof, of Derwent Close, Willenhall and Owen Crooks, of Wolverhampton. Also jailed were 31-year-olds Levi Walker, of no fixed address, Antonio Christie, of Devey Drive, Great Bridge and Michael Osbourne, of Hobgate Road, Heath Town.

Their convictions were quashed during a Court of Appeal hearing in London this month after a report highlighted a series of failings that led to questions being asked about the reliability of the lead witness, Simeon Taylor.