‘But that is for another day. Today we are to sentence Anna Carter for her role, and Your Honour has allowed me to speak with a chance to influence the sentence he proposes. She has been charged with obstruction of justice, concealment of a crime, leaving the scene of an accident. But not murder. She did not murder my son or his girlfriend Joanne. Truly, I do not now concern myself with her actions in delaying justice for eight years. She did not kill my son and I bear her no ill will. She made this judicial process easier by admitting guilt, she has been defended by a number of police officers in South Yorkshire, she has given heartfelt apologies, and the country has seen video evidence and heard testimony proving that she suffered, too, in a terrible connected crime of the kidnapping of her young daughter. She was tricked and cajoled by the man who did kill my son, and eight years later dragged by that same man and his wife into a second nightmare. But she did obstruct justice and she has been found guilty of that. But what should the next step be?

‘I see nothing dark inside her that needs rehabilitating, and without a desire to rehabilitate, a prison sentence can be only to punish. I believe she has served her punishment, to lie under the weight of another’s terrible lie for eight years, and to have had her daughter’s life put at risk. I do not want to see another family ruined. I do not want to be part of tearing her from her family, her little girl, who was very nearly lost for ever. Mrs Carter’s story will not close following this hearing, unlike mine, for she must endure the trial of the Eastmans for kidnapping. Her suffering continues. Don’t punish another for one’s actions.

‘“It is your decision ultimately, Your Honour, and you are somewhat bound by sentencing guidelines, but you sought my opinion and it is the will of myself, my wife and the parents of Joanne Padley that little Josie Carter’s mother is not taken away from her. To the joy of some and no doubt anger of others, primarily those with little grasp of the entirety of this story, I say now sentence her to the six years she was offered in return for compliance – but suspend, Your Honour. Suspend. Send her home to her family. Otherwise, you will be sentencing us all.’

If you were gripped by The Family Lie, you won’t be able to put down The Choice by Jake Cross. When Karl sees a woman standing in the middle of the road, shaking with fright, he helps her to safety. But can he really trust her? And is his family in danger?

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The Choice

‘You’ve got to help me.’