Accused da Vinci lawyers 'spoke of reward'

Published on Tuesday 2 March 2010 21:50

THREE solicitors accused of a £4.25 million extortion plot discussed the legality of securing a reward for the return of a stolen Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece, a court has heard.

A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh was told that the lawyers met two men from England in the offices of a Glasgow law firm and the outcome had been an offer to an insurance loss adjuster to assist in the "repatriation" of the 50m painting, Madonna of the Yarnwinder. The painting was taken from the Duke of Buccleuch's Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries and Galloway in 2003.

Everything had been done legitimately, and there was nothing covert or underhand, it was claimed.

Marshall Ronald, 53, a solicitor, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire; Robert Graham, 57, and John Doyle, 61, both of Ormskirk, Lancashire; Calum Jones, 45, a solicitor, of Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire; and David Boyce, 63, a solicitor, of Airdrie, Lanarkshire, are accused of conspiring between July and October 2007 to extort 4.25m from the duke and the insurer, Hiscox UK, for the safe return of the painting.

It is alleged that they warned "volatile individuals" might "do something very silly" if the police were informed about negotiations which led to the painting being presented to undercover officers at a meeting in October, 2007 in Glasgow.

The court heard that, following recovery of the painting, a search was carried out at Doyle's home and two CDs were found. They were recordings of a meeting at the West Regent Street law firm offices in July 2007.

James McClung, 49, a retired detective sergeant, said he had listened to the CDs and he agreed with Donald Findlay, QC, acting for Ronald, that the meeting involved Ronald, an English solicitor, and two clients as well as two Scottish solicitors. There had been a discussion "in very general terms" about the possible recovery of the da Vinci painting.

During the discussion, Ronald suggested obtaining possession of the painting to ensure it would be safe, but Jones had said no, because, "once you have got it, you have to hand it over". Jones had felt it would be possible to return the painting and obtain a reward and remain "just about bombproof".

Mr Findlay said that ten days after the meeting, Ronald had written to the loss adjuster, saying his firm had been instructed to act for clients who could assist in the recovery of the painting.

"We make it plain from the outset we do not act for the thieves and have no knowledge as to the identities of the original thieves. Our concern is to negotiate the safe repatriation of the painting and negotiate the reward/finder's fee on behalf of our clients," the letter had stated.

Mr Findlay said: "Nothing covert, nothing secretive, nothing, on the face of it, underhand about this at all."

Mr McClung replied: "On the face of it, no."

Earlier, the court heard from John Chrystie, 50, a gardener at Drumlanrig Castle. He recalled he was weeding in the east garden when he noticed a man walking back and forward on the gravel path outside the castle. Then, an alarm sounded.

"I heard some shouting. There were three gentlemen running down the banking from the top terrace. One of them had a square object under his arm," he said.

He said he recognised the object as the da Vinci painting and added: "When I realised what was happening, I was going to have a go for one of them and he pulled an axe from his jacket, a small hand axe. He never said anything. I veered off and ran up the banking and entered the house."

He said the men had jumped over a balustrade and disappeared from sight.

Before evidence resumes today, the jury will be taken to the National Gallery of Scotland to view the painting.