He had before him the forensic authentication of the hidden camera footage, confirmed genuine and unaltered by state experts.

He had the recovery of Marcus Vance’s cell phone, its records now unlocked, containing among other things the blackmail messages that filled in the last of the motive.

And he had a full confession, given by Richard Cole in the long hours after his arrest, once the video had made denial pointless.

The judge reviewed it all, and then he struck his gavel against the block with a single resounding crack that echoed through the silent room.

“The conviction of Elena Cole for the murder of Marcus Vance is hereby overturned and vacated in its entirety,” he declared.