 The trial commenced on 16 November 1993 , and lasted 22 days . All six denied murder and in their testimonies each defendant tried to minimise their part in the crime . On 24 November , Clifford Pook was cleared of murder on the directions of the judge Mr. Justice Potts . The jury began their deliberations on 16 December 1993 , and took nine hours and fifty @-@ two minutes to reach their verdicts . Mr Justice Potts said : " Each of you has been convicted on clear evidence of murder which was as appalling a murder as it is possible to imagine . " 
