This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/01/family-shocked-death-italian-trolley-london-canal

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Family shocked by death of Italian man found tied to trolley in London canal Family shocked by death of Italian man found tied to trolley in London canal
(34 minutes later)
The family of an Italian art thief whose corpse was found bound to a shopping trolley in a London canal have spoken of their shock at the death of the “romantic free spirit”.The family of an Italian art thief whose corpse was found bound to a shopping trolley in a London canal have spoken of their shock at the death of the “romantic free spirit”.
The decomposing body of Sebastiano Magnanini, 46, was pulled from Regent’s canal in north London after being spotted by a passerby last week.The decomposing body of Sebastiano Magnanini, 46, was pulled from Regent’s canal in north London after being spotted by a passerby last week.
Magnanini, originally from Venice, was jailed for 18 months in the 1990s after stealing an 18th-century painting worth nearly 2bn lire (then around £1m) from a church.Magnanini, originally from Venice, was jailed for 18 months in the 1990s after stealing an 18th-century painting worth nearly 2bn lire (then around £1m) from a church.
Related: Body found in London canal identified as Italian nationalRelated: Body found in London canal identified as Italian national
As Scotland Yard appealed for more information about Magnanini on Thursday, his brother Matteo insisted “Seba” was not involved in any criminal activity.As Scotland Yard appealed for more information about Magnanini on Thursday, his brother Matteo insisted “Seba” was not involved in any criminal activity.
“The press are picturing him as a criminal purely based on his past. But my brother was a romantic free spirit that lived his life fully, looking for peace and happiness,” he told the Evening Standard.“The press are picturing him as a criminal purely based on his past. But my brother was a romantic free spirit that lived his life fully, looking for peace and happiness,” he told the Evening Standard.
“For us and all [who knew him] he was a unique and very special person, always there to cheer anybody up and make their day a memorable one.“For us and all [who knew him] he was a unique and very special person, always there to cheer anybody up and make their day a memorable one.
“He was more than just a skilful carpenter. You can see that from what his friends are saying in tribute. He was a really special person.“He was more than just a skilful carpenter. You can see that from what his friends are saying in tribute. He was a really special person.
“As far as we all know, my brother was clean, hard-working and not involved in any criminal activity.”“As far as we all know, my brother was clean, hard-working and not involved in any criminal activity.”
Originally from the Cannaregio area of Venice, Magnanini is thought to have lived in Croydon, south London, in 2003, before travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia.Originally from the Cannaregio area of Venice, Magnanini is thought to have lived in Croydon, south London, in 2003, before travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia.
On Facebook, Magnanini listed himself as living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and told friends as recently as June that he planned to return to London “soon”. On Facebook, Magnanini listed himself as living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and told friends as recently as June that he planned to return to London soon.
He is understood to have worked as a carpenter and for an events company while living in the capital.He is understood to have worked as a carpenter and for an events company while living in the capital.
One of Magnanini’s friends in London, who declined to be named, told the Guardian he had known “Seba” for about two years and last saw him a few weeks before his death. One of Magnanini’s friends in London, who declined to be named, told the Guardian he had known him for about two years and last saw him a few weeks before his death.
“He seemed happy. He was always happy,” he said. “Never had a bad thing to say about anyone.”“He seemed happy. He was always happy,” he said. “Never had a bad thing to say about anyone.”
The friend said he knew nothing about Magnanini’s past. “He was a traveller, he’d been travelling for years all over the world. He was just one of those, living out of a bag, come and go, happy, friendly people.” The friend said he knew nothing about Magnanini’s past. “He was a traveller, he’d been travelling for years all over the world. He was just one of those living-out-of-a-bag, come-and-go, happy, friendly people.”
Detectives had earlier issued a plea for information by describing Magnanini’s distinctive tattoos – a lizard or gecko tattoo on his right shoulder, a koi carp on his torso and some smaller tattoos on the fingers of one hand. Detectives had earlier issued a plea for information by describing Magnanini’s distinctive tattoos – a lizard or gecko on his right shoulder, a koi carp on his torso and some smaller tattoos on the fingers of one hand.
One traveller friend from Cambodia posted a tribute to the man he called his “guide to Asia” during their time together. “Asia, without your knowledge, would have been just a land different from mine,” he wrote. “Thanks for telling me its story. And a bit of yours ... Goodbye old man. Goodbye”. One traveller friend from Cambodia posted a tribute to the man he called his “guide to Asia”. “Asia, without your knowledge, would have been just a land different from mine,” he wrote. “Thanks for telling me its story. And a bit of yours … Goodbye old man. Goodbye”.
Another friend, who shared pictures of Magnanini playing guitar in Siem Reap, Cambodia, posted: “The world lost a wonderful man with a heart of gold when it lost Seba. RIP buddy, you’ll be missed.”Another friend, who shared pictures of Magnanini playing guitar in Siem Reap, Cambodia, posted: “The world lost a wonderful man with a heart of gold when it lost Seba. RIP buddy, you’ll be missed.”
The death is being treated as suspicious and detectives from the homicide and major crime command are investigating.The death is being treated as suspicious and detectives from the homicide and major crime command are investigating.
DCI Rebecca Reeves, leading the investigation, said: “This has been devastating for Sebastiano’s family. If you think you may have seen Sebastiano at any point, or you know what happened to him, please get in contact.”DCI Rebecca Reeves, leading the investigation, said: “This has been devastating for Sebastiano’s family. If you think you may have seen Sebastiano at any point, or you know what happened to him, please get in contact.”
The theft of the valuable 18th-century artwork, Education of the Virgin by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, then worth 2bn lire, was described as “tragicomic” by investigating officer Giuseppe Mauceri in press reports at the time. The theft of the artwork, Education of the Virgin by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, was described as “tragicomic” by investigating officer Giuseppe Mauceri in press reports at the time.
On 13 December 1993, the thieves entered the Venice church of Santa Maria della Fava, evading detection by monks because there was no alarm system, but finding their simplistic tools were not suitable for removing the painting from its heavy frame. On 13 December 1993, thieves entered the Venice church of Santa Maria della Fava, evading detection by monks because there was no alarm system but finding their simplistic tools were not suitable for removing the painting from its heavy frame.
Magnanini and his accomplice approached another friend who reportedly told them it was bad luck to steal from a church but was persuaded to help when told of the painting’s value.Magnanini and his accomplice approached another friend who reportedly told them it was bad luck to steal from a church but was persuaded to help when told of the painting’s value.
The trio took a break from their heavy work during the night, drinking at a local bar and smoking marijuana. The gang then made their escape with the painting, which they had folded in half and tied with shoestrings. The trio took a break from their heavy work during the night, drinking at a local bar and smoking marijuana. They later escaped with the painting, which they had folded in half and tied up with shoestrings.
Police later discovered the painting, which depicts the Virgin Mary and her mother, at a house near the city’s Marco Polo airport, and said the gang had intended to cut it into four parts before it was sold, earning them 20m lire each. Police discovered the painting, which depicts the Virgin Mary and her mother, at a house near the city’s Marco Polo airport, and said the gang had intended to cut it into four parts before selling it so they could earn 20m lire each.
Magnanini was found guilty of aggravated robbery and sentenced to 18 months in prison in 1998. In sentencing, the magistrate said he could not exclude the possibility that the men may have been operating after instruction from the Venetian mafia.Magnanini was found guilty of aggravated robbery and sentenced to 18 months in prison in 1998. In sentencing, the magistrate said he could not exclude the possibility that the men may have been operating after instruction from the Venetian mafia.