THE long and harrowing trial of the men who murdered PC Sharon Beshenivsky has come to a satisfactory conclusion with the killers being told they must serve at least 35 years in jail.

Muzzaker Shah and Yusuf Jamma, who made defiant gestures as the sentences were passed at Newcastle Crown Court, are clearly a danger to the public. Perhaps in this case of such ruthless cruelty, life might mean life.

There is a poignancy in the timing of the end of the trial so close to Christmas, a time for families to be together, and our hearts go out to PC Beshenivsky's loved ones.

Her death is a reminder of the dangers faced by police officers every day, the uncertainty that every call brings, and the respect they deserve for the job they do.

PC Beshenivsky is, of course, not the only victim of the attempted robbery at a Bradford travel agents last year. Her colleague PC Teresa Milburn survived being shot in the chest - another bullet that need not have been fired.

Her testimony brought the terror of that day home and, although she has courageously returned to duty, those terrible memories will be with her for the rest of her life.

As the judge, Mr Justice Andrew Smith said, there could be no starker contrast between the service and dedication of those two women police officers and the callousness of Shah and Jamma.