Despite claiming that he was acting in self defence when he shot and killed Sir Peter Blake during an armed robbery on board the expedition yacht Seamaster, 23-year old Ricardo Tavaras was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 36 years and 9 months – this is despite the fact that in Brazil no-one can serve more than 30 years in jail. The five other members of the gang received a minimum of 26 years.

Blake, 53, was shot dead on December 5 by the bandits who boarded Seamaster when she was anchored off Macapa on the Amazon.