Wanden finally flinches on hearing ‘30 years’

FOR the first time in 43 days in court Martin Wanden flinched yesterday — and that was at the moment he heard the sentencing judge say “30 years”.

Defence lawyers asked the judge to take note of the fact that the three defendants were middle- aged and to leave them some light at the end of the tunnel. But when Wanden heard the sentence he was handed down, the involuntary physical reaction was momentarily visible.

Apart from that one moment, Wanden’s court appearances were typified by a confidence if not a cockiness. Even yesterday, when he entered the courtroom from the holding cell below, he smiled despite facing what he knew would be a significant sentence.