···Whether they 'taunted the authorities' or not is a moot point - nothing to do with this trial is fully authenticated as far as I'm concerned; the secrecy surrounding it because of their age and the lynch-mob hysteria whipped up by the press in order to sell newspapers has made it near impossible for anybody to claim that.···
Bit of special pleading in this point, I think Jim; esp in the bit I have emphasised. The police, who had no particular reason that I can see to fudge this particular issue, stated that the pair had been well-known to them for some years as exploiters of the 'age of crim respons' get-out. Do you really have to have witnesed any offence committed with your own eyes to believe it has taken place?