THE rain beat down so hard, it seemed the day of judgement was just a thunder peal away.

And for the desperate killer crouched in the bushes beside the River Monnow, it was.

Cornered by armed police and soldiers 75 years ago today, Ronald ‘Scarface’ Mauri knew he had reached the end of the road just yards from Monmouth town centre.

Lifting up his revolver, he took aim across the stream, determined to take one of his pursuers with him.

Read all about it in this week’s Monmouthshire Beacon - out today