He fell silent for a few seconds before speaking again with the utmost sincerity in his voice. ‘I would like to take this opportunity now to offer my condolences over Stuie Starr’s tragic death.’

He then spent the next two hours denying anything at all to do with the financial records and maintained he had no links to the overseas accounts. He told the court he had not been involved in any importation of drugs, using classic cars or distributing drugs within Sussex.

Brown turned to him. ‘Finally, you believe you have been framed by Starr and his associates?’

‘I am a completely innocent man being framed by the police, Starr and others.’

He went on to inform the court that the reason he had answered no comment in his police interviews was that the charges were nothing to do with him and were part of the overall conspiracy to frame him.

‘Finally, Mr Gready, why should the jury believe you?’ Primrose Brown asked.

‘I have sworn on oath to tell the truth, I am a legal professional and the prosecution has produced no compelling evidence to show I’m guilty of what they allege. I am an innocent family man, and I would ask every member of the jury to believe what I have just shared. I am an innocent man.’

‘Please wait there,’ Brown said to her client.

Cork rose to his feet. ‘Mr Gready, you are positing a somewhat hard to believe theory as to who might have murdered Stuie Starr. You suggest that Michael Starr gave evidence against you because he thinks it is you who killed his brother.’

‘That is the truth he would like this court to believe,’ Gready responded calmly. ‘A truth that is a very elaborately planned and executed fiction.’

‘We heard yesterday,’ Cork continued, ‘Mr Starr is claiming to have been the General Manager of your classic car dealership. And we have evidence from the SD card and USB sticks showing your relationship, drug dealing and foreign account activity over many years. Yet you are maintaining that you never met him and that he never worked for you?’

‘That is correct.’

‘And beyond the occasion, some eighteen years ago now, when you used your – ah – influence in some way to get him acquitted, you are maintaining you have never had any dealings or communications with Mr Starr?’

‘That is correct.’

‘You have suggested to this court that if any calls had originated from Michael Starr, they would have been connected to your role as a solicitor and nothing more sinister. And yet, you also say you have never met the man.’

Gready made no comment.

Cork persisted. ‘Is this correct?’