Chapter Sixty-six
Oscar hoped that the jury would be out for several days, perhaps reaching a verdict sometime next week, but the message relayed by the Sheriff’s Officer came after just two hours of deliberation.
The mood of the defence team at the bar table was the complete opposite of that displayed by the prosecution. Fenella and Blackmore could barely conceal their delight, whilst D’Ascenzio did not even bother to try. Even Judge Latimer seemed to join in with the prosecution’s elation, but Matthew felt that it might merely be his imagination. It was as though the entire courtroom already knew the verdict. The jury shuffled back to the jury box, keeping their eyes fixed on the floor, their faces solemn. The announcement seemed almost superfluous to Matthew, with every juror’s face s
