He glanced at his notes. ‘Any of you, any one of you on this jury, with just the most basic of computer skills, could gain access to the phones and computers of almost anyone you choose and doctor their records – even those of one of your fellow jurors, if you really wanted to. You could give your best friend a criminal record, you could plant all kinds of incriminating evidence in their computer files without their knowledge.’

Brown signalled to him. ‘Do go on.’

He looked at them imploringly. ‘I’m just like you – like any of you. What has happened to me could happen to any of us. Someone sees an opportunity to frame a totally innocent person.’ He paused, as if having trouble with his emotions, his voice quavering. ‘But in my case, they have taken it even further, they have done something utterly disgusting, utterly depraved, something almost beyond human comprehension in their efforts to put me on trial for offences I have never committed. Something that threatens the whole life I’ve built with my wife and children, who have been here in court every day supporting me – it’s as though I am being punished for no other offence than trying to be a decent, upright citizen in a world that is becoming increasingly violent and crooked.’

He paused for a moment, looking around the court as if to ensure he had everyone’s attention. He needn’t have worried. Continuing calmly, he was sounding every inch the rational man.

Meg was battling with her own emotions. She so sorely wanted to stand up and expose the creep for the liar he was. She wanted to demand, in front of this entire court, why he was threatening to murder her daughter if he was so damned innocent? But she kept quiet, seething inside as he went on, sounding increasingly pious.

Gready’s QC interjected. ‘Mr Gready, can you tell the court why you think Michael Starr is doing this to you?’

‘I can’t tell you whether Michael Starr is a man operating on his own or is the front for a criminal syndicate – the latter, I strongly suspect. But if you believe me, and I sincerely hope you will, as my whole future life and reputation depend on it, I’m going to tell you something that I know you all will find utterly shocking, utterly vile and almost beyond comprehension.’

He paused, looking dreadfully hurt. ‘I believe it is very probable that Stuie was murdered by someone in an attempt both to implicate me and to give credence to the quite astonishing and incredibly inventive pack of lies that you heard from Mr Starr yesterday.’

Primrose Brown again interjected. ‘Mr Gready, the court has already heard that Mr Starr has admitted his guilt. Can you explain that?’

‘Yes, he’s a desperate man with nothing to lose, facing a very long prison sentence.’