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Gold toilet heist 'bold and brazen' - judge tells jury Gold toilet heist 'bold and brazen' - judge tells jury
(about 1 hour later)
The solid gold toilet disappeared from Blenheim Palace in 2019The solid gold toilet disappeared from Blenheim Palace in 2019
Jurors in the trial of three men accused over the theft of a £4.8m solid gold toilet have retired to consider their verdicts.Jurors in the trial of three men accused over the theft of a £4.8m solid gold toilet have retired to consider their verdicts.
The 18-carat artwork was taken from Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in the early hours of 14 September 2019, two days after it went on display as part of an exhibition.The 18-carat artwork was taken from Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in the early hours of 14 September 2019, two days after it went on display as part of an exhibition.
Judge Ian Pringle KC told the jury he wanted unanimous verdicts for all three defendants, describing the crime as "a bold and brazen burglary". Judge Ian Pringle KC, who has described the crime as "a bold and brazen burglary", ended his summing up by urging the jury to try and agree on unanimous verdicts for all three defendants.
Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, denies one count of burglary. Bora Guccuk, 41 from West London and 36-year-old Fred Doe from Windsor, both deny conspiracy to transfer criminal property.Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, denies one count of burglary. Bora Guccuk, 41 from West London and 36-year-old Fred Doe from Windsor, both deny conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
(Left to right) Michael Jones, Bora Guccuk and Fred Doe deny the charges against them(Left to right) Michael Jones, Bora Guccuk and Fred Doe deny the charges against them
A fourth man, James Sheen, 40, from Oxford, has previously pleaded guilty to burglary and transferring or converting gold.A fourth man, James Sheen, 40, from Oxford, has previously pleaded guilty to burglary and transferring or converting gold.
Thieves stole the fully-functioning toilet in a raid which took just five minutes, Oxford Crown Court previously heard.Thieves stole the fully-functioning toilet in a raid which took just five minutes, Oxford Crown Court previously heard.
It weighed 98kg (216lbs) and was insured for $6m (£4.8m).It weighed 98kg (216lbs) and was insured for $6m (£4.8m).
Gold prices at the time would have seen the metal alone worth £2.8m, the court was told.Gold prices at the time would have seen the metal alone worth £2.8m, the court was told.
The artwork, called America, was part of an exhibition by the Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan.The artwork, called America, was part of an exhibition by the Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan.
Jurors heard it was most likely broken up, and has never been recovered.Jurors heard it was most likely broken up, and has never been recovered.
Judge Pringle told the jury: "This was not a bog standard burglary – it was an audacious heist on one of the most famous palaces in this country.Judge Pringle told the jury: "This was not a bog standard burglary – it was an audacious heist on one of the most famous palaces in this country.
"It was a bold and brazen burglary, with great rewards for anyone who got away with it.""It was a bold and brazen burglary, with great rewards for anyone who got away with it."
CCTV of theft of £4.8m gold toilet shown in courtCCTV of theft of £4.8m gold toilet shown in court
Earlier in the trial, Mr Jones admitted in court he visited the palace on two occasions before the theft.Earlier in the trial, Mr Jones admitted in court he visited the palace on two occasions before the theft.
On the second visit - the day before the heist - he told the court he had booked a slot to use the toilet, an experience he described as "splendid".On the second visit - the day before the heist - he told the court he had booked a slot to use the toilet, an experience he described as "splendid".
The prosecution suggested the visits, along with photographs Mr Jones had taken of the toilet and the window the thieves would later use to gain entry to the palace, were reconnaissance for the robbery.The prosecution suggested the visits, along with photographs Mr Jones had taken of the toilet and the window the thieves would later use to gain entry to the palace, were reconnaissance for the robbery.
But Mr Jones said a series of messages he sent to Sheen during these visits were work-related or about a large dog kennel he was planning to help Sheen collect after his visit to the exhibition.But Mr Jones said a series of messages he sent to Sheen during these visits were work-related or about a large dog kennel he was planning to help Sheen collect after his visit to the exhibition.
Mr Jones told the court he was at home in bed at the time of the raid.Mr Jones told the court he was at home in bed at the time of the raid.
Fred Doe admitted using the code word "cars" to represent kilograms of gold in a series of messagesFred Doe admitted using the code word "cars" to represent kilograms of gold in a series of messages
Prosecutors said a series of messages, voice notes and screengrabs discovered on Sheen, Mr Doe and Mr Guccuk's phones in the days after the burglary, showed the trio negotiated a price of £25,632 per kilo for about 20kg (44lbs) of the stolen gold.Prosecutors said a series of messages, voice notes and screengrabs discovered on Sheen, Mr Doe and Mr Guccuk's phones in the days after the burglary, showed the trio negotiated a price of £25,632 per kilo for about 20kg (44lbs) of the stolen gold.
Mr Doe told the court he had tried to help Sheen sell the gold but said he would "never in a million years" have dealt with him if he had known it was stolen.Mr Doe told the court he had tried to help Sheen sell the gold but said he would "never in a million years" have dealt with him if he had known it was stolen.
In his closing statement, his defence barrister Crispin Aylett KC told the jury: "You might think [he] is a proud man, you might think that he has been a fool but he is not a criminal.In his closing statement, his defence barrister Crispin Aylett KC told the jury: "You might think [he] is a proud man, you might think that he has been a fool but he is not a criminal.
"This loss to the nation's bottoms cannot be laid at the feet of Fred Doe.""This loss to the nation's bottoms cannot be laid at the feet of Fred Doe."
Defence barrister Kevin Dent KC told the court there was "no evidence" against his client Mr Guccuk.
The jeweller and gold dealer chose not to take the stand, which the prosecution said meant important questions went unanswered, including what the gold looked like when it was delivered to his jewellers in Hatton Garden.
The prosecution has previously said Mr Guccuk must have known where it had come from as he had agreed a price without having seen it.
But Mr Dent asked the jury: "What clear evidence is there that Mr Guccuk did anything wrong or criminal?"
He said what Mr Guccuk had done was "ordinary business…. There is no evidence there was anything suspicious about the gold itself".
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.