Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt to be freed from prison in weeks despite failing to pay back £3m drugs cash | The Sun
A SUSPECT in the Stephen Lawrence murder case will be freed from prison in just weeks after being convicted of a £3 million drug plot.
Jamie Acourt, 46, has failed to pay back any of the £90,000 he made from the crime, but will be released on 3 November after serving half of his nine-year sentence.
Acourt, who is also a suspect in the investigation into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, spent more than two years on the run in Spain under the name Simon Alfonzo before being brought to justice.
He was prosecuted in 2018 for his part in a drug plot which saw £3 million worth of cannabis resin moved from London to South Shields, Tyne and Weir.
His brother Neil was also convicted and sentenced to six years in prison.
Jamie Acourt was ordered last January to pay back the £90,000 of ill gotten gains he made from the scheme or risk having another year added to his sentence.
Most read in News
Tory minister FIRED over serious misconduct claim at party conference this week
Major update on dig for Moors Murders victim Keith Bennett released by police
Moment bus driver kills pensioner after leaning down to pick up chocolate
Knifeman gunned down by armed cops after sparking evacuation at B&M store
He told City of London Magistrates' Court: "I'm more than willing to pay but obviously with the cost of living and everything else, I can only earn what I can earn and I can only pay what I can pay."
He added that his family "don't have the funds" to pay the debt yet and will do so as soon as possible.
District Judge Neeta Minhas agreed that he should be released from prion, but ordered him to pay £500 per month or face reactivation of his sentence.
Judge Minhas added that the murder suspect's offer of £50 or £100 a month wouldn't even cover the £20 per day interest on the debt.
Read More on The Sun
Is it cheaper to use an air fryer, slow cooker, oven or a microwave?
I left the hospital with my newborn only to find out I’m pregnant again
She said: "You will be earning a decent salary. It is not minimum wage.
"If you choose to leave the country and not pay, a warrant will be issued for your arrest and you will serve that sentence when you come back to the country."
Acourt was one of five men, including his brother, arrested over the murder of 18-year-old Stephen after the teen was stabbed to death in a racially motivated attack in Eltham, South London while waiting for a bus.
In 2012, almost two decades after the 1993 murder, two of the five suspectswere prosecuted for Stephen's death.
Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted of murder and handed life sentences.
Most read in The Sun
Tory minister FIRED over serious misconduct claim at party conference this week
Fury grows over £10-a-day deal for Brits to cut energy use as huge catch emerges
GMB's Kate Garraway issues heartbreaking update on husband Derek Draper
I’m A Celeb signs Strictly love rat Seann Walsh four years after scandal
Norris was recently referred to police for allegedly taking selfies in his HMP Dartmoor cell and sending them to friends.
The fifth suspect in the Lawrence case, Luke Knight, has remained free.
Source: Read Full Article