Denyer replied, ‘There was no trace of a specific name but that’s what I would have expected to find. The whole purpose of creating these types of accounts overseas is to conceal identities.’

Meg felt a flutter of hope.

Brown spent the next hour asking Denyer numerous questions regarding her evidence in chief, but it appeared to Meg that the QC was making very little, if any, progress in discrediting any of it.

Brown continued. ‘Ms Denyer, my client is facing extremely serious allegations, it is important that the jury is aware of exactly what you are saying, you understand that?’

‘Yes, of course.’

‘Ms Denyer, let’s be very clear, there is nothing linking these two transactions except that they are of the same amount, that’s right, isn’t it? There’s no name, company details, nothing whatsoever beyond the cash amount, is there?’

Denyer countered her. ‘That, and the account numbers match.’

‘So, your conclusion is based solely on coincidence?’

Denyer started to respond but, before she could, Brown added, ‘That’s pretty desperate, isn’t it?’

Cork immediately stood up and said to the judge, ‘I object to my learned colleague’s last comment, Your Honour.’

‘I agree,’ said Jupp, and instructed the jury to ignore it.

‘I have nothing further for this witness,’ Brown responded, and sat down.

You are good! Meg thought, privately. But then she worried, Or am I just clutching at straws in desperation?

Cork got to his feet. ‘I have only one more question, Your Honour. My learned friend suggests your conclusion is based solely on coincidence but how would you describe the evidence?’

Emily Denyer replied, ‘Strong circumstantial evidence.’

‘Thank you,’ said Cork. ‘I have no more questions.’

The prosecution case against Terence Gready had been due to finish around mid-morning and all the jurors had been eagerly anticipating the start of the defence, which would commence soon after Emily Denyer had finished giving her evidence. And there was anxiety among some of the jurors that although they’d been told the trial was expected to last a couple of weeks, there was now every indication it might run longer.

Their anxiety was compounded by Stephen Cork making a surprise announcement that he had a new prosecution witness – someone who had formerly been lined up as a defence witness. Primrose Brown had immediately requested an adjournment to give her team time to prepare their cross-examination. Richard Jupp had given her short shrift. ‘You are well aware there is no property in a witness,’ he said, sternly. ‘You know this person, you know what evidence he has. I’ll give you fifteen minutes – time to let the jurors have a quick coffee break.’ He glanced at the clock. ‘Court is adjourned. We reconvene at 11.35.’