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Brother of murdered schoolboy denied compo
The brother of murdered schoolboy Keith Lyon has been denied compensation for the effect the crime had on his life.
Peter Lyon applied to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority on the advice of Sussex Police for help with the tens of thousands of pounds he has spent on psychiatric bills since his brother's death.
He has spent 40 years battling depression, suicidal thoughts and post traumatic stress disorder - a condition not recognised in the early years after 12-year-old Keith was killed.
Keith, a young, gifted musician was stabbed 11 times in the chest and back as he walked from his home in Ovingdean to Woodingdean to buy a geometry set on Saturday, May 6, 1967.
Now 48, Peter Lyon told The Argus: "The last 40 years of my adult life have been a struggle. I can only really put it down to this. I was a normal, jolly, cheeky chappy of a boy. My mother said as soon as this happened, I changed."
Mr Lyon had a nervous breakdown while studying at the Royal College of Music in 1990 and spent the next 15 years having psychotherapy.
If he had won compensation, Mr Lyon wanted to spend it on his son's education. Most of the money left to him by his own parents, Ken and Valda, has been spent on psychiatric care, leaving him with very little.
His nine-year-old son lives in Thailand where Mr Lyon, a musician, has spent much of the last ten years.
The compensation authority said his claim was rejected because he was not involved in the "immediate aftermath" of a violent crime.
Mr Lyon said: "I can't see how they can really say that. I was quite angered by it because it is almost offensive. My GP wrote to them saying she couldn't imagine anything that could be more damaging to a child at that age than have his only sibling removed and the effect of that on his parents.
"I have suffered from this serious depression all my life."
Mr Lyon said waiting decades for a conviction and a year for an answer from the compensation authority has added to his anxiety.
He said the stress has made it difficult to get close to people for fear of losing them and at times it is only his son that keeps him going.
He said: "It is a lot to live with. I feel like I am under this cloud all the time.
"I know a lot of people suffer, a lot of people have depression. I can only point to this. It was caused by a specific, horrific incident.
"I made this compensation claim because that is what this body is there for."
A spokesman for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority said its hands were tied by legal precedent. He said: "We are very sorry to hear the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Lyon's brother and the understandable impact this and the subsequent police investigation has had on him.
"The fact that we have not paid compensation in this case does not mean that we don't believe Mr Lyon has been deeply affected by his brother's murder.
"However, we operate under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme as laid down by Parliament and we have to determine if a claim is eligible under that scheme.
"Under the scheme an applicant can sometimes receive compensation for mental injury caused by the murder of a close relative. The applicant has to show he either witnessed or was present at the murder or he was closely involved in the immediate aftermath to receive compensation.
"There are legal cases to assist the interpretation of what is immediate aftermath. CICA staff will consider the circumstances of each case to decide if compensation can be paid."
Applicants can ask for a decision to be reviewed by a more senior case worker. If they are still unhappy, they can appeal to an independent panel.
Mr Lyon will ask for the decision to be reviewed. He is also hopeful that a new arrest by Sussex Police in June will lead to a prosecution.
A police spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing. Anyone with information should call 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
1:40pm Saturday 18th August 2007
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CommentPosted by: Louis, Brighton on 3:30pm Sat 18 Aug 07
It is too late now - or perhaps not too late - but in 1967 it would have been a wise move for somebody to tell Mr Lyon that the thing his brother would have wished most of all is for him to be happy - and not to give those murderers even more satisfaction. They are probably gloating even as they read this terrible story. they are the ones who should be doing time, not Mr Lyon and, of course, he is by giving precious time to being wrapped up in all this.
It is too late now - or perhaps not too late - but in 1967 it would have been a wise move for somebody to tell Mr Lyon that the thing his brother would have wished most of all is for him to be happy - and not to give those murderers even more satisfaction. They are probably gloating even as they read this terrible story. they are the ones who should be doing time, not Mr Lyon and, of course, he is by giving precious time to being wrapped up in all this.
Posted by: DE on 6:59pm Sat 18 Aug 07
"Compo"? The Argus - slacking again.
"Compo"? The Argus - slacking again.
Posted by: jan on 11:12am Sun 19 Aug 07
How dare you all say that compensation should not be paid. My father and I were involved in an assault. My father was never the same and as taken ill and nearly died. The pig that did this should have paid with his life...I was awarded for the distress and anguish this incident caused. So don't talk to me about getting on with life ..you idiots.
How dare you all say that compensation should not be paid. My father and I were involved in an assault. My father was never the same and as taken ill and nearly died. The pig that did this should have paid with his life...I was awarded for the distress and anguish this incident caused. So don't talk to me about getting on with life ..you idiots.
Posted by: John, Cyberspace on 12:38pm Sun 19 Aug 07
Compo?
Last of the Summer Whine?
Compo?
Last of the Summer Whine?
Posted by: bongo, worthing on 2:05pm Sun 19 Aug 07
this is why individual cases are examined to see if compensation should be awarded, jan deserve's the payout lyons dosen't wow a system in this country that actually seems to be working!
this is why individual cases are examined to see if compensation should be awarded, jan deserve's the payout lyons dosen't wow a system in this country that actually seems to be working!
Posted by: brian, hove on 4:04pm Sun 19 Aug 07
i understand mr lyon has suffered but i do not beleive pursuing financial compensation paint's him in a very good lite perhaps if he volunteered his time to working with charity's in this country that supports victims of crime it would be a far greater tribute to his bothers memory.maybe he could make a charity record and donate the proceeds to one of these underfunded charity's.
i understand mr lyon has suffered but i do not beleive pursuing financial compensation paint's him in a very good lite perhaps if he volunteered his time to working with charity's in this country that supports victims of crime it would be a far greater tribute to his bothers memory.maybe he could make a charity record and donate the proceeds to one of these underfunded charity's.
Posted by: Andy R on 6:10pm Sun 19 Aug 07
[quote][bold]Lee Parry[/bold] wrote:
What a mutt!Stop whining and get on with life. A jolly good example of why I choose not to live in the UK now. [/quote] Ha ha!
How appropriate that you should have chosen to live in that very bastion of philosophical, non-litigious folks who never,ever contemplate sueing anyone about anything!
Lee Parry wrote:
What a mutt!Stop whining and get on with life. A jolly good example of why I choose not to live in the UK now.
Ha ha!
How appropriate that you should have chosen to live in that very bastion of philosophical, non-litigious folks who never,ever contemplate sueing anyone about anything!
Posted by: sad guy, brighton on 12:31am Mon 20 Aug 07
I was in the same class as Keith Lyon. He wasnt a really close pal we did go skating a couple of times though.
I can remember the news coming through on the sunday eve on the tele as if it was yesterday.
It had been a happy weekend my mums birthday and was about to go to bed.
The draining feeling that I got still hits me when ever he is mentioned in the media.
His poor parents and his younger brother have had to bear ten thousand times that every day since.
One day they will get the bastards that did this.
If thy can give phone number type compensation to prisooners denied their **** why not his brother??
Maybe if the people responsible had long since been behind bars some sort of closure would have happened but it hasn't.
Good luck Peter never give up on justice finally being done.
I was in the same class as Keith Lyon. He wasnt a really close pal we did go skating a couple of times though.
I can remember the news coming through on the sunday eve on the tele as if it was yesterday.
It had been a happy weekend my mums birthday and was about to go to bed.
The draining feeling that I got still hits me when ever he is mentioned in the media.
His poor parents and his younger brother have had to bear ten thousand times that every day since.
One day they will get the bastards that did this.
If thy can give phone number type compensation to prisooners denied their **** why not his brother??
Maybe if the people responsible had long since been behind bars some sort of closure would have happened but it hasn't.
Good luck Peter never give up on justice finally being done.
Posted by: david, brighton on 1:45am Mon 20 Aug 07
www.punkbrighton.co.
uk/vandel.html
visit this site for more on peters sad tale.
www.punkbrighton.co.
uk/vandel.html
visit this site for more on peters sad tale.
Posted by: hazel, brighton on 2:03am Mon 20 Aug 07
think it's quite sad that mr lyon has been unable to move on from the loss of his brother all those years ago but i have to say cannot see how compensation would suddenly make it all okay.
think it's quite sad that mr lyon has been unable to move on from the loss of his brother all those years ago but i have to say cannot see how compensation would suddenly make it all okay.
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