wave of protest and anger from the convicted man's family.

And the case could soon go before the Court of Appeal after Lightbourne's sister accused the Bermuda Police Service of corruption.

Describing the Police as "disgusting, filthy and corrupt'', Laquita Lightbourne said that detectives struck a deal with the driver of the getaway vehicle in order to build up a case against her brother.

Roderick Bean was eventually released without charge after telling Police that Lightbourne had forced him to take part in the robbery.

He said that Lightborne had flagged him down on the morning of the robbery and, with a pistol pointing at his head, demanded that he be the getaway driver.

It was a story that Lightbourne's defence attorney Marc Telemaque described as "incredible''.

During the trial Mr. Telemaque told the jury: "Roderick Bean spends three days in custody and on the third day he confesses.

"He not only confesses but also implicates Randolph Lightbourne and then he's mysteriously released without charge. Make of that what you will.'' Following the verdict and sentence, Ms Lightbourne said: "This was a conspiracy and God will eventually right all wrongs.'' Another of Lightbourne's siblings, brother Roydell, insisted that the jury must have been influenced by Lightbourne's previous life of crime.

Although great care is taken never to reveal a defendant's previous convictions during a trial, Roydell Lightbourne insisted that the jury must have been aware of his brother's past -- and that coloured their judgment.

Before the verdict was announced Mr. Lightbourne was confident that his brother would be found innocent.

But he also spoke of his concern that his brother might already be a known criminal to the ten women and two men who were to decide his fate.

"Bermuda's just too small and everybody knows everyone else -- people talk,'' he said.