I went to Bernie Madoff’s sentencing today and wrote this FT piece:

It was, taken literally, an absurd jail sentence: one of more than life, one reaching well into the grave. Yet Judge Denny Chin on Monday ignored the plea of Bernard Madoff’s lawyer to give him a shorter term on the grounds that, at 71, his life expectancy is about a dozen years and instead threw the sentencing book at him.

The handing down of the 150-year sentence was a moment of breathtaking legal theatre at the end of a hearing that was both mournful and moving, as nine victims of Mr Madoff’s Ponzi scheme stood to testify to the suffering he had caused. Their lamentations were accompanied by the sound of others crying softly in their seats.

Ira Sorkin, Mr Madoff’s lawyer, did his best during the 90-minute hearing to argue that Mr Madoff was sorry for his crimes, had co-operated with the authorities and should not suffer “vengeance”. Yet, after the victims had spoken, his argument that his client should be treated gently sounded hollow.

Mr Madoff put on a more effective display of remorse than at the hearing in March when he had woodenly pleaded guilty to fraud and other charges. This time, he turned deliberately to face his victims lining the seats at the back of the Manhattan courtroom to say: “I am sorry. I know it does not help you.”

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