On 18 August 1991 Thompson's son Arthur Jr (nicknamed "Fatboy")[REF] died after being shot three times[REF] outside the family home[REF] "The Ponderosa" [REF].
Over 300 witnesses, including Thompson Sr,[REF] were called to give evidence at a trial which lasted fifty four days and cost £4 million, at the time the longest[REF] and most expensive trial in Scottish legal history [REF].