[MSN] Munch convicts back in court, Munch robber believed dead

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Munch convicts back in court
A court in Oslo refused on Tuesday to postpone the appeals trial of defendants convicted in the robbery of Edvard Munch’s famous paintings "The Scream" and "Madonna." That means the trial can move forward as planned.

Attorneys for the defendants had petitioned to have the appeals trial postponed, because they haven't been allowed to review a secret deal negotiated by the police that led to the recovery of the paintings.

They've petitioned Norway's Supreme Court to intervene and order the secret files to be opened, but the high court hasn't responded yet. The defense attorneys thus wanted the Munch case delayed, at least until a decision is handed down.

The court, Borgarting lagmannsrett, denied the petition for postponement, however, and ordered the trial to proceed as scheduled.

Six weeks have been set aside to hear the case, in which the defendants are appealing prison terms handed down last year in connection with the sensational art heist.

They're also appealing huge compensation claims they've been ordered to repay to the city of Oslo, to cover costs associated with the theft.

While the arguably priceless paintings were ultimately recovered, the city is claiming millions to cover, among other things, the costs of repairing the paintings, which were damaged during the theft.

The city also claims it suffered lost ticket revenues at its Munch Museum after the paintings were stolen.

Defense attorneys are rejecting the compensation claims, however, arguing that their theft has made Munch paintings more valuable than ever, while more visitors have recently been streaming to the Munch Museum than ever before.

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Of the two robbers who stormed into Oslo's Munch Museum in August 2004, only one is believed to have been in court on Tuesday. Police think the other man is dead.

Stian Skjold, age 31, was acquitted by an Oslo city court last year and has denied guilt in the sensational Munch robbery. The city court cited lack of evidence when refusing to convict him.

Prosecutors, though, maintain that Skjold was one of the two men who stunned museum visitors and staff on that otherwise quiet Sunday morning in August two-and-a-half years ago. They’ve appealed his acquittal, which is why Skjold, who's also been charged with drug possession, was back in court.

His alleged accomplice, however, was never even charged. He's the one police now believe carried the Smith & Wesson 357 magnum revolver and forced the museum visitors and staff to hit the floor while the other robber tore Edvard Munch’s famous paintings Scream and Madonna off the walls.

The two men then fled to a getaway car parked outside, where a third man was waiting. Petter Tharaldsen, age 35, was convicted of driving the getaway car, and he was in court Tuesday, appealing the eight-year prison term he was handed last year.

Drug overdose
The man brandishing the gun clearly played a leading role in the robbery. Police didn't get on his trail until early last year, though, and now have determined that he died of a heroin overdose in November.

This was confirmed when the appeals case in the Munch robbery started Tuesday morning. Prosecutor Elisabeth Jordan Ramstad claimed that he was the man who carried the gun and threatened museum guards, staff and visitors.

She said was a drug addict and that "he is now dead." Aftenposten has chosen not to reveal his identity.

Two other men charged and convicted as accomplices to the Munch robbery are appealing their convictions. They are Bjørn Hoen, age 38, and Petter Rosenvinge, age 39. Police, meanwhile, are also appealing the acquittal of another man, Thomas Nataas, age 36, who was charged with receiving stolen property.

It's never been revealed how the stolen Munch paintings ultimately were recovered. Police refuse to reveal documents connected to the recovery, indicating secret deals were struck with those who ultimately were behind the heist.

Prosecutor Ramstad said that release of information leading to the recovery would endanger people's life and health. She did, however, tie David Toska, convicted in the commando-style NOKAS robbery, to the Munch robbery, saying police have information that someone gave the order to snatch the Munch paintings, and that person "may be David Toska."

http://www.aftenposten.no