WARN TRUEUENTU
Rita Nightingale however had funds. Mrs Castle said the Thai Embassy had told her that if a defendant could not pay for a lawyer one would be provided by the Court. This could not be equated with free legal aid and Rita's funds would be soon used up. Mr Duncan said that Dr Haas had found £20,000 for bail. Mrs Castle replied that Dr Haas had made it clear that this money was only for bail purposes. Mr Duncan said it appeared Dr Haas was prepared to see Rita break bail in which case the £20,000 would be forfeited. If Dr Haas was prepared to lose his money he would have thought it could be used for legal expenses. Mr Hallmark said he wanted no part in Dr Haas' scheme for breaking bail. Dr Owen said that this was also his view and the less said about it the better.
8. Mrs Castle thought it unjust that someone like Rita Nightingale should not have recourse to official assistance in meeting her defence costs. Dr Owen said that there might be a case for setting up some ad hoc machinery for dealing with such cases and invited Mrs Castle to pursue the point with the Lord Chancellor's office.
CONSULAR DEPARTMENT, FCO
21 June 1978
copy to:
PS(2)
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
PS/Mr Luard
PS/PUS
Mr Murray News Dept
SEAD
Consul-General, Bangkok
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