The trial of the three men began in November 2004. It is believed to have been one of the longest murder trials in criminal history and cost £10 million.

Richard Horwell, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey jury: “Some crimes are beyond belief and on any view these horrific murders fall into that category. Three generations of a family were executed – deliberately killed because of the greed of these defendants. They intended to make substantial gains from their dreadful crimes and their audacious scheme – and they very nearly succeeded…”

The jury took 13 days to find the men guilty of murder. The judge, Sir Stephen Mitchell, told them: “Your crimes are uniquely terrible. The cold-blooded murders of an eight-week-old baby and 18-month-old toddler, not to mention the murders of their mother, father, and grandmother, provide a chilling insight into the utterly perverted standards by which you have lived your lives.

“Your characters are as despicable as your crimes. Each of you is a practised, resourceful and manipulative liar. For these crimes, you two highly dangerous men must pay the heaviest sentence…”