Edwin Buckett successfully defeats claim for Crimewatch reward

News | Tue 6th Oct, 2015

In a reserved judgment given on the 6^th October 2015, HHJ Freeland Q.C. sitting at Central London County Court dismissed an appeal by the Claimant against an order striking out his claim for a £100,000 reward payment. The reward had been advertised on ‘Crimewatch’ for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for the murder of PC Patrick Dunne in Clapham, South London on the 20^th October 1993.

The Claimant had volunteered information which led to the conviction of the murderer in 2006. Although he disclaimed any right to the reward at that time, after the conviction, he sought to claim it against the police maintaining that the reward offer had never been withdrawn.

The police successfully defended the claim on the basis that no contract had been formed between the parties and that any attempt by the Claimant to establish a contract after the conviction failed for want of consideration.

Edwin represented the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and was instructed by his solicitor Mr Hugh Giles.