Without delay, the judge opened the sentencing by explaining to his audience that as Sam had already pleaded guilty to numerous crimes, there was no jury nor trial taking place. Sam wouldn’t be represented by a defence team, as he’d waived his right to council. Once the formalities of the understanding were agreed by the prosecution, the judge began to run through the crime sheet.
Despite his wishes for the session to be treated as a normal sentencing, it didn’t take Judge Barnes long to realise opportunity. With the cameras rolling and the press at the ready, the judge dramatically walked the courtroom with Sam Pope’s story. The two men killed in Amy Devereux’s flat. Another killed within the archive office of the New Scotland Yard building, a place where Sam had once served the city of London.
The criminals found dead at the late, disgraced Inspector Howell’s home. His daring raid of the High Rise, which claimed the lives of multiple criminals, along with Frank Jackson.
The death of Detective Sergeant Colin Mayer.
The continued fight against the High Rise operation leading to the death of Elmore Riggs and his crew, along with the brutal torture and disfigurement of the leader of the notorious ‘Acid Gang’.
Multiple deaths at the Port of Tilbury, where despite Sam’s brave efforts in saving Jasmine Hill and three other young girls from sex slavery, had claimed the lives of Andrei Kovalenko and his brother, Oleg.
While there were multiple incidents in Ukraine, Berlin, and Rome which had been linked to Sam, they were not being brought against him today.
With each stage of the story, Sam could feel the anger emanating from the police presence in the room. It wasn’t due to his laundry list of crimes.
It was because he’d been more effective than they had. His methods, while illegal, had brought down two of the most dangerous criminal empires in the country and having it laid out, eagerly lapped up by journalists, only exacerbated their resentment.
The judge continued.
Sam’s re-emergence at Liverpool Street Station less than two weeks ago which had seen three people taken to hospital as well as the shutting of one of the city’s busiest transport networks.
An attack on a government issued motorcade, where he’d killed several men in his abduction of General Wallace.
Sam flicked a glance towards Ashton, whose lip tightened and fists clenched.
The judge finally brought his grand story to a close, wrapping it up with the death of a known terrorist, Farukh Ahmad, along with the death of Wallace, which the judge made a point of stating that Sam had not pleaded guilty for.
That, nor the death of Sergeant Carl Marsden or the hideous murder of Helal Miah.
The mention of Miah’s name seemed to cause a chill in the room, as his fellow journalists mourned a peer who had died in the name of unravelling a conspiracy. Since his unfortunate murder, The Pulse had honoured his memory by printing the story Miah had given his life for, the proof coming in the form of an anonymous recording of Wallace confessing to his crimes.
While Miah may have died, and Wallace may not be around to face the music, the world knew what he truly was.
A monster.
It was the end of the fight, and Sam knew his freedom was a small price to pay to avenge the death of his mentor and expose the man who had left him for dead all those years ago.
Judge Barnes took a moment, sipping from a glass of water, and allowing his articulate story to resonate in the room. While the journalists furiously scribbled on pads, and a number of people stared at Sam in disbelief, the gravity of Sam’s actions seemed to have shaken the room.
‘Samuel William Pope, please stand.’
The judge’s voice echoed through the courtroom and a hush of excitement followed. Sam obliged, standing at once, his shoulders straight, his chin up.
Like a soldier.
‘You have pled guilty to the crimes I have just relayed to the courtroom. Is this true?’
‘Yes, your Honour.’
Another murmuring of excitement followed at Sam speaking, as if this mythical figure had been made flesh and blood. Sam kept his eyes locked on the judge, who seemed to respect the dignity of the man he was sentencing.
‘Before I make the sentence final, do you have anything you would like to say?’
This was it. The moment the entire courtroom had been waiting for and the silence swept across the room like a crashing wave. All heads turned to the box where Sam stood.
‘Yes, your Honour.’ Sam replied, before readjusting his stance. ‘I’m under no illusion that what I did carries a severe penalty. My actions were against the law and I accept that fact and the sentence you’re about to give me. I have forfeited my freedom for what I believe was necessity. The criminals responsible for bombing this city, the police officers who helped them. They are gone because of me. Four young girls, and no doubt, countless more have been saved from a life of sex slavery. General Wallace, a man who is wrongly revered by a number of people in this room, had been exposed as one of the most dangerous men this country has ever known.’
From the corner of his eye, he saw Ashton shuffle uncomfortably in her seat. He ignored it and continued.
‘While I regret that my actions broke the law, I regret even more that they were needed. So I apologise to those who I’ve hurt, to those whose lives I changed. To my ex-wife, an incredible woman who fought for me when I wouldn’t. And to my son, who I wish every single day I could see and who would have asked me not to do it.’
Sam paused, taking
