‘You masterminded a robbery in which an innocent man lost his life. Although you did not take part in the robbery, you were there in as much as you furnished the details to your cronies, as well as supplying them with cars and guns - guns which you told the men to use at the first sign of trouble.’

His voice rose then. ‘Guns which were used to murder one guard and leave another incapacitated for the rest of his life. These were men with families, leading full and useful lives, which through your greed and viciousness were tragically cut short. As we have heard in this courtroom, you ruled your empire with terror, hiding behind the façade of a respectable building contractor and dealer in prestige cars. A man with a high profile in the community, an affluent man, a cunning man. You have refused to name those responsible for the robbery, insisting throughout this débâcle that you had no knowledge of it whatsoever, even though witnesses have sworn on oath that they are too terrified of you to give evidence against you. I can only hope that your conscience will trouble you in the future, when you think of Mr Thomas, who was a fine, upstanding and very brave man, and of his widow, who must now bring up two young children alone without the benefit of their father.’

The judge removed his spectacles once more.

‘Georgio Anthony Brunos, I would be failing in my duty as a public servant if I did not impose the maximum penalty possible, under the present law. It is my solemn duty to remove you from society, which I feel most strongly has earned a respite from you. I sentence you to life imprisonment, with a recommendation that you serve at least eighteen years. I can only hope you use the time to reflect on your life and put right the many wrongs you have done. Have you anything to say for yourself?’

Georgio stood up unsteadily, his face a mask of fear and shock. Pointing to Inspector Laughton, he said weakly: ‘This man has fitted me up and you fell for it, hook, line and sinker. You’re all fucking mad!’ Then leaning on the rail before him, he began to shout: ‘You’re all off your fucking heads! There’s nothing to put me away for, nothing!’

As Georgio was dragged from the court, Donna could hear herself screaming his name. It was only as he disappeared down the stairs behind the holding box that she realised the voice was only inside her head. The tears escaped from her eyes; she felt a heavy hand drop on to her shoulder. Seeing the dark hairs on it, she recognised it as Pa Brunos’s. He pulled her up gently and all she could say was: ‘The world’s gone mad. The whole world’s gone mad. He is innocent, Pa. Innocent!’