‘I suppose you could say I was his courier and general fixer.’
‘Courier and general fixer?’
‘Yes. I’ve worked as a courier for him, regularly bringing in drugs from continental Europe, mostly on yachts and small planes. I also distributed his drugs within the UK. I’m not proud of it, but I’d had to look after my kid brother who had Down’s Syndrome. I did it to try to pay for a decent life for him. To ensure he had a decent home. So I could take him on trips, like to Florida, to Disneyworld. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I’d made a promise to our mum that I would always take care of him.’
Cork was still looking at the jury with the conviction of a man who knows he has them with him. ‘Mr Starr, you are a man whom the defendant has been claiming he has never met. Yet you say you worked as both General Manager for a company owned by him and as a courier and general fixer for him. Can you recall the last time you did meet?’
‘Yes, it was sometime before November 26th of last year.’
‘Might it have been Wednesday November 21st?’
Starr paused. ‘It might have been. If we was allowed our phones, I could tell you.’
There was a small ripple of smiles at his reply, before the court became deadly serious again.
‘Are you certain he knew it was you, yourself, who was acting in the roles of General Manager, and courier and fixer?’
There was a brief silence in which the entire court could have heard the proverbial pin drop.
‘Well, how could he not have, he’s known me all these years?’
Cork paused. ‘Mr Starr, you have yourself pleaded guilty to all six counts that Gready faces — are you aware that you face a long prison sentence for your part?’
‘Yes, I am aware.’
‘Can you fully describe the nature of your relationship with the defendant? And expand on your other responsibilities?’
‘I would say I was his lieutenant.’
‘Lieutenant?’ Cork repeated.
‘Yes, I acted for him as his eyes, ears and authority. Whilst he remained out of sight, to the whole world a good and dutiful citizen, running his law practice, I was the person both bringing in the majority of his drugs and running his county lines empire for him.’
All pleasant and calm, Cork asked him, ‘Can you tell this court just what your duties entailed — and could I ask you also to explain to the court just what exactly the extent of this so-called county lines empire was — and how it operated?’
Mickey Starr spent some time giving chapter and verse on Terence Gready’s operation.
Cork then said, ‘In summary, Mr Starr, you have told the court that you were actively involved not only in a conspiracy to import drugs but also to distribute them, and your actions have been driven by the defendant Terence Gready.’
‘That is correct, sir.’
It was nearly 3 p.m. when a clearly dispirited Primrose Brown stood up to cross-examine the witness.
‘Mr Starr, you are lying, aren’t you?’
‘No, I’m telling the truth.’
‘You are trying to reduce your sentence, aren’t you?’
‘That’s not true, he was my boss.’
‘Well, let’s talk about the truth for a moment, shall we? You say that you first met my client when he intervened in a case when you were starting out on your criminal career, eighteen years ago?’
‘Yes.’
‘And that since then you have been involved in the drugs trade, yes?’
‘For him, yes.’
‘Please answer the question that is asked. For the past eighteen years you have been involved in the drugs trade, yes?’
‘Yes.’
‘Making you a seasoned drug trafficker, yes, and this culminated in your arrest at the port with six million pounds’ worth of Class-A drugs concealed in a car?’
Starr hesitated. ‘Well...’
Brown interjected. ‘Answer the question, please.’
He replied, ‘Yes.’
‘And when cornered, you assaulted a Border Force official, kidnapped an innocent member of the public, stole his car and drove like a maniac on public roads, before being forcibly stopped by police officers. You continued to resist arrest until you were restrained. Mr Starr, you are just making it up as you go along, aren’t you?’
‘No, I’ve told the truth.’
‘But you must appreciate, Mr Starr, that the jury simply cannot believe a word you say given your criminal history, can they?’
‘Yes, they can.’
‘But why, Mr Starr, when you are plainly only turning on my client in the hope that your story will be believed, and you may receive a reduced sentence? You are a drug dealer, who has previously lied to the police, who has been involved in importing drugs for years, without a care in the world about the damage this trade does. As I’ve just said and I will now repeat, the jury cannot believe a word you say, can they?’
‘I’m telling the truth.’
Brown picked up a document from the desk in front of her. ‘Can I show you this statement that was taken from you by one of my team, back in February?’
She then handed the statement to the usher, who gave it to Starr.
‘Did you make this statement?’ Brown asked.
‘Yes, I did,’ replied Starr.
‘Can you tell the court about its content?’
‘I basically say that I have not been involved with Terence Gready in any sort of drug dealing or importation of drugs.’
‘That statement is true, isn’t it?’
‘No, I was only saying it to help him get off the charges.’
‘So you were lying?’
‘In that statement I gave to your team, yes, but I’m telling the truth now.’
‘How can anyone believe what you say now when you have just admitted lying in a witness statement?’
‘The circumstances are different now, I’m telling the truth.’
Primrose Brown, now she had him on the ropes, spent the next hour challenging the evidence Starr had given, addressing the content of his witness statement and highlighting discrepancies, tormenting him with them.
When she finally stopped, Starr blurted out, suddenly and emotionally, ‘My brother has been murdered and I strongly believe that this case has something to do with it.’
Richard Jupp immediately interjected. ‘Mr Starr, I understand that you are grieving for your brother, but this court is neither the time nor the place to make this sort of accusation. Please confine yourself to answering the questions you are asked.’
Jupp then turned to Ms Brown. ‘Do you have any further questions?’
‘No, Your Honour.’
Cork rose to his feet. ‘Just to be absolutely sure, Mr Starr, you stand by your evidence that you have told the court today, not only about the drugs but also your knowledge that the defendant used the classic car company as a front for his drug dealing?’
‘Yes, that is correct.’
‘Finally, you spoke about your knowledge of the evidence found at the defendant’s house and in a safety deposit box.’
‘Yes, he always told me he kept the information regarding his deals in a place no one would find them and it meant that although his name would not be found on the bank accounts, he would be able to keep track of the money.’
Cork and Brown had no further questions, and the judge then instructed the court security staff to escort the witness out of the court.
Cork addressed the court. ‘I would now like to call my final witness, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Glenn Branson.’
Branson entered the courtroom, took the oath and began giving his evidence, walking the court through the key points of the investigation, how and when it had started.
He outlined his monitoring and supervision of Emily Denyer, and told the court that, in his opinion, she had conducted a very comprehensive and efficient investigation of the financial details, ‘chasing the money’. He also confirmed the evidence found on the USB sticks, which contained details of the cars involved, and the relevant dates, which matched large deposits being paid in to overseas bank accounts.
He further confirmed the numerous other sums that were deposited in the same accounts.
He concluded that his team had obtained sufficient evidence to indicate large-scale drug dealing and importation, together with money laundering. Finally, he reaffirmed to the court that Gready had maintained no comment interviews throughout his time in custody, when he had been questioned at some length about the allegations and his involvement.
Primrose Brown stood. ‘As you know, my client says he is innocent of these allegations and that the police have fitted him up?’
‘That is not true, the evidence we have found as part of the investigation indicates that he is guilty of drug dealing on a huge scale. He has not been fitted up in any way, shape or form.’
Brown continued with her questions, suggesting that her client had been framed, which Branson denied.
‘You have told the court that my client was responsible for so-called county lines drug dealing within Sussex. From what I have been able to establish, these activities have continued despite my client and his alleged conspirator being locked up. How do you explain that?’
‘The reality is that whenever the police are able to cut off one supply or take out one drug dealer, there are many lining up to take their place, which is what has happened within Sussex.’
‘So there are any number of people who are involved in the county lines drug dealing?’ she asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Are any of them solicitors?’
‘No,’ Branson answered.
‘Do any of them defend those accused of serious crimes?’
‘No.’
‘I have one more question,’ Primrose Brown said. ‘My client believes that you have been taken in by Michael Starr, who has lied throughout to help himself and reduce his sentence. That is a possibility, isn’t it?’
Branson replied, ‘Absolutely not, there is clear evidence of your client’s involvement.’
‘So whatever is suggested to you, you cannot even entertain the thought that my client is being cleverly accused of crimes he did not commit?’
Branson stared at her, unsure of how to respond. Before he could, she nodded once and said, ‘I have no more questions, Your Honour.’
Cork confirmed he had no re-examination and that the prosecution case was complete.
Richard Jupp said that the trial was now adjourned for the day and they would recommence tomorrow at 10 a.m., when they would hear from the defence.
As soon as the judge had left the court and the jurors headed back to their room to collect their things, Meg scrambled past the others, just making it to the toilet in time. She locked the door behind her, lifted the lid and threw up.