Munch Thieves' Appeal Brings Longer SentencesBy ARTINFO
Published: January 11, 2008
Their April 2006 sentences from a lower court ranged from five to nine and a half years. The two men appealed, and the Supreme Court, citing the paintings' pricelessness, responded by increasing the sentences: Petter Tharaldsen's by one year to 10 and a half years and Stian Skjold's by six months to six years. The court rejected the conviction of Bjoern Hoen, who had been sentenced to five and a half years in prison, because his testimony may have been tainted; his case will return to the lower courts for a new trial. The paintings, insured for $141 million and currently undergoing repairs, were stolen in August 2004 from Oslo's Munch Museum and recovered nearly two years later. |