A NURSE who murdered two of his patients and poisoned 19 others was handed nearly £800,000 in legal aid to defend himself, new figures have revealed.

The shock sum is nearly £20,000 more than the total number awarded to Victorino Chua’s victims.

4 Victorino Chua, 51, was handed nearly £800,000 in legal aid Credit: PA:Press Association

Police believe the 51-year-old, from the Philippines, used fake qualifications to work in the UK.

Officials slammed the nurse’s actions as “absolutely disgraceful” on Friday as it was revealed his victims and their families received compensation between £760,475 and £18,527.

A handful of the 51-year-old’s victims were given compensation of less than £10,000 each.

4 The killer nurse's legal aid fees were nearly £20,000 more than the total number awarded to his victims Credit: GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE





A Freedom of Information request by the Daily Mail revealed one of Chua’s victims, who was left brain damaged by the “psychopath”, received around £500,000.

While two others were given £95,000 and £50,000.

The news of his state-funded defence costs come following a Ministry of Justice pledge to crack down on legal aid.

Chua is just two years into a minimum 35-year sentence for murder.

4 Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71, and Derek Weaver, 83, from left to right ... Chua was convicted of murdering Arden and Weaver, and acquitted of Lancaster's death Credit: PA:Press Association

The 51-year-old’s credentials were called into question in 2012 shortly after he was arrested on suspicion of the murders.

Prior to his arrest, he had worked at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport.

Police believe Chua had someone else sit his professional nursing exam in the Philippines, before flying to the UK and landing a job.

Chua’s £779,000 legal bill was made up of £379,991 in solicitor costs, £308,445 in barrister costs and £90,566 in disbursements.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, the sister of one of Chua’s two murder victims slammed his legal aid bill.

Lynda Bleasdale said the amount is “totally unjust”.

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The 72-year-old, whose brother Derek Weaver was poisoned by Chua, told how the compensation her family received was “barely enough to cover my brother’s funeral costs”.

She added: “For his lawyers to be paid so much more than the families is appalling – I find it absolutely disgraceful.

“It shows there's something wrong with the system.”

Meanwhile, the ex-chief prosecutor who laid charges against Chua, Nazir Afzal, told the paper: “Whilst this was a very complicated investigation, the prosecution provided all the evidence (to the defence) at the point of charging and were ready for trial within weeks.

“So it is surprising that £779,000 would be charged to the legal aid fund.”

The 51-year-old victim’s legal team was fronted by Peter Griffiths QC, who has been named as one of the UK’s highest paid barristers in the past.

4 The 51-year-old is believed to have had someone else sit his professional nursing exam in the Philippines, before moving to the UK Credit: PA:Press Association

Chua was convicted of murdering Tracey Arden and Derek Weaver.

While he was acquitted of the murder of Arnold Lancaster, he was convicted of poisoning him and 18 other patients with insulin.

The dad-of-two murdered his victims by injecting insulin into saline bags and ampoules, while working on two wards at the Stockport hospital in June and July 2011.

Other nurses on the same ward then unwittingly used the saline bags and ampoules, which led to a number of insulin overdoses.

For his lawyers to be paid so much more than the families is appalling – I find it absolutely disgraceful Lynda Bleasdale

Speaking on Chua’s legal aid, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “The funding of more expensive cases is managed by a team within the Legal Aid Agency to ensure that costs are carefully controlled.

“Expected costs are negotiated in advance based upon the nature of the case and the alleged role of the defendant.

Claims submitted for payment are always subject to further scrutiny and assessment.”

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, which is responsible for running the hospital, said: “It is our understanding that all claims have been settled, with 18 people receiving a total payment of £760,475.”

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