The leader of the Green party has called on Prime Minister David Cameron to overturn the decision to deny legal aid to the parents of Zane Gbangbola in their fight to prove toxic gases from a former landfill site killed their son.
Zane's parents maintain that the seven-year-old died from hydrogen cyanide poisoning
Seven-year-old Zane, a pupil at St George’s Junior School in Weybridge, was rushed to St Peter’s Hospital along with his parents Kye and Nicole after suffering a cardiac arrest when flood waters entered their home in February 2014.
His parents have since maintained that poisonous gases from a nearby landfill site caused their son’s death.
Zane’s father, Kye, was only 3m away from his son on the night he died, and lost the use of his legs after the tragedy, which he attributes to hydrogen cyanide poisoning.
The family’s appeal for £70,000 of legal aid for the upcoming inquest in June has been rejected by the Legal Aid Agency as it did not meet public interest tests.
But Surrey Police, the Environment Agency and Spelthorne Council, who maintain Zane died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty pump, will all be represented at the inquest.
The family of murdered Walton schoolgirl Milly Dowler had criticised the Legal Aid, Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, which imposed restrictions on whether people would qualify for representation and 'no win, no fee' claims.
Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party, met with Zane’s parents yesterday afternoon in Weybridge and is now calling on David Cameron to overturn the Legal Aid Agency’s decision.
She said: “I found out about the campaign so arranged this meeting with Kye and Nicole. It’s clear that what has happened is a tragedy and we don’t add a huge injustice to that tragedy.
“The inquest is coming up, it’s important that Kye and Nicole are represented with legal aid so I’m calling on David Cameron to make that decision.
“We have two grieving parents here who should have the right to a full proper inquest and they should have proper legal representation.
“The decision needs to be made now, there are precedents where David Cameron has overruled legal aid.
“The site still has not been tested, but we clearly need to know what’s going on here.”
Mr Gbangbola said: “We very much appreciate Natalie coming to meet with us and the party meeting with us nationally and supporting Zane, because this needs answers.
“It has been two years and the questions as regards to public protection and the questions as regards to the issues of flooding need answers.
“That’s all we’ve ever asked for from the outset and we hope this meeting represents a change, that we secure some support and that we have a full and fearless inquest.
“Given the other agencies involved that are represented, it would be wrong that we wouldn’t be, as the victims and survivors.”
To donate to the family's GoFundMe page, visit gofundme.com/TruthAboutZane.
- Got a story? Call the newsdesk on 020 8722 6313 or email rachel.dickerson@london.newsquest.co.uk
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