Chapter 18Below the courts it was bedlam. Everybody appeared to be shouting at each other and the officials were trying to hustle Harry Thompson away whilst the defence team were arguing for a few moments’ delay. During the ensuing mêlée it was finally decided that his departure would be delayed by fifteen minutes to allow his defence team time to brief him on their plans for launching an appeal at the earliest opportunity.
Harry Thompson was in a deep sense of shock. The trial itself had been an ordeal, but now, with a guilty verdict, and a sentence of twenty years minimum hanging over him, it still hadn’t fully sunk in. Irene and Michael kept trying to reassure him they would leave no stone unturned in their efforts to free him, but, nothing seemed to register with him. Although he had
