John leaned forward and said in a low voice, ‘We knew you’d be here. I said to Maureen as soon as I heard it on the news, “Antigone will be there.” Let’s see them fry the little bastard this time.’

‘Oh, John,’ I said, ‘it’s not that simple. Noah Shepherd was found not guilty. That means he has no convictions. They’ll probably let him out on bail. You need to prepare yourself for that.’

‘No! They couldn’t! How many times are they going to let him loose to attack other girls?’ His voice was louder than a whisper and one of the police prosecutors turned and grimaced in our direction. John leaned back in his seat and let out a trembling breath.

Maureen looked worried. Took her husband’s hand. This was all so unfair. They were good people. The legal system had destroyed their daughter and I suspected it was about to kick them in the guts again.

Sometimes justice wears jackboots.

Bob and Noelene Shepherd entered and took a place in the front row. They ignored us. Then the bail hearing commenced. Noah Shepherd was brought in wearing an expensive suit and a respectful expression—he knew how to behave in public. There was a quick overview of the latest assault, which sounded hauntingly similar to Gemma’s experience—a girl, alcohol, dancing—but this time he’d avoided the park and taken her into a disused cloakroom. With a silver tongue, Noah’s silk declared that he was not a flight risk and spoke glowingly about his new job at a top-tier accounting firm and his ties to the community.

And then, the kicker.

‘My client,’ said the silk, sweeping his arm towards Noah, ‘has clearly become a target since the false allegations made about him last year by, um’—the lawyer flicked through some papers on his desk—‘Gemma … Watts.’

I gasped. How could he get her name wrong?

Gemma’s father stood up suddenly and his voice filled the courtroom. ‘My daughter’s name was Gemma WATSON!’

The magistrate did not look unkind but was clearly a no-nonsense type. ‘Mr Watson, I’m sorry for your loss,’ she said, ‘but I really must ask you to sit down or my bailiff will have to remove you.’

But it was a meaningless threat. Gemma’s dad couldn’t stay in the courtroom any more than his wife and I could. Maureen and I followed him out, and I ushered them over to a quiet waiting room. I didn’t want them anywhere near the door when Noah Shepherd came through it, as he was sure to any minute.

John was shaking with anger. ‘He’s going to use Gemma to get him off this one.’