‘Relax. None at all. The gun you found at Stranraer killed Kevin Boyle. You lucky bugger.’

‘Yes. Maybe so. But now my problems really start.’

McAllister picked up the telephone.

‘David, you and Tom go and collect our Mr McGarry and take him to an interview room. Tell him nothing. I’ll be there momentarily.’

Joe Johnstone was leaving the office.

‘Joe, thanks. I appreciate it.’

He received a wave of acknowledgement.

‘Now to work!’

‘Ladies and gentlemen, as I indicated, the evidence in the case is for you and not for me. I intend to say nothing about it. You have heard the arguments, the pros and cons rehearsed in the speeches of counsel. These are serious matters and they merit serious consideration.

‘The Crown must prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that the accused is guilty of murder before you can convict. Mere suspicion will not do.

‘The Crown rely heavily on the evidence of the witness Barclay Thomson. He positively, you may think very positively, identified the accused as the killer. Was he in any way shaken in cross-examination? Are the criticisms of him justified? Does he really have a reason to lie, to fabricate his evidence? If he is lying, he is a wicked, wicked man indeed. It is a matter entirely for you to resolve. If you accept his evidence, there is ample material to provide you with the necessary corroboration.

‘There was bad blood between the families and perhaps a motive based on commercial rivalry, if I may thus generously put it. You have the bloodstains on the jacket, a jacket owned by the accused and similar to that worn by the assailant. You have the admission to the witness Warwick – a colourful character indeed. Particularly, you have the confession to the young police officer, Mr Taylor. You will remember he, tragically, lost his father. You will also recall, I have no doubt, the ferocious attack mounted against him and decide whether you thought that was justified or possessed of any merit.

‘No doubt Mr Muirhead conceived this to be his duty in terms of his instructions. And, no doubt Mr Taylor made mistakes. Surely we all make mistakes. The enthusiasm of youth is especially prone to error. But did he really lie, would he really lie about such a vital matter? You may think that this would be a very difficult prospect to contemplate. If you accept his evidence, then clearly that would take the Crown a very long way towards proving its case. A very long way indeed.

‘You must, of course, remember everything Mr Muirhead said to you in his powerful address and give it such weight as you consider appropriate. The special defence of alibi is supported, albeit to a limited extent. However, I think it right to say that Mr Muirhead placed more reliance upon his attack on the Crown case than he did on the alibi. I leave all these matters with you.