THE cry "Get me Beltrami" was famously uttered by thousands of accused in police cells throughout the country, but no longer.

Anyone who plaintively pleads: "Get me someone as good as him" is going to have to initiate a search high and low. For there were not and are not many in the mould of Joe Beltrami, one of Scotland's best-known criminal defence lawyers, who has died aged 83.

In a career spanning half a century, Mr Beltrami was involved in many high-profile cases. He saved a dozen of his clients from the hangman's noose. He was involved in the first Royal Pardon to be granted in Scotland, when Maurice Swanson had his convictions for bank robbery quashed, and later acted for safe-blower Paddy Meehan, who had been controversially convicted of murder and who also received a Royal Pardon.

Many of the people he represented were both notable and notorious. One may not approve of some of his clients; one may also lament some of the verdicts he was instrumental in bringing about. But there can be no doubt that one of the cornerstones of a free society is the inalienable right of all to a vigorous and strong defence. Joe Beltrami performed a valuable service, and his loss is lamented.