Private eye in da Vinci case is victim of police con, claims his lawyer

A PRIVATE investigator alleged to have been at the centre of a ransom plot was himself the victim of a conspiracy by his lawyer and an undercover policeman, a court has heard.

Robert Graham turned to solicitor Marshall Ronald for advice but was "let down and deceived", the jury in the Madonna of the Yarnwinder trial heard yesterday.

The High Court in Edinburgh also heard the prosecution's conspiracy theory over the return of the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece was a "mad idea", and that it beggared belief a Scottish solicitor would have jeopardised his life by taking part.

The painting was stolen in 2003 from the Duke of Buccleuch's Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfriesshire. In 2007, Graham 57, and John Doyle, 61, private investigators in Liverpool, were approached by intermediaries for people holding the painting who wanted 700,000 to release it.

They consulted their solicitor, Ronald, 53, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and he sought advice from two Scottish lawyers, Calum Jones, 45, and David Boyce, 63.

Ronald contacted an insurance loss adjuster who informed the police and an undercover operation was set up. After discussions between Ronald and an officer posing as the duke's representative, the painting was recovered at a meeting in the offices of a Glasgow law firm.

The five men are accused of conspiring to extort 4.25 million for the safe return of the painting.

John Keenan, solicitor-advocate for Graham, said his client needed expert advice. He consulted his solicitor and was told the return of the painting could be achieved lawfully.

"What more could he have done? He was let down and, worse than that, he was actively deceived," Mr Keenan said.

Ronald's conduct, in many ways, had been "reprehensible", suggested Mr Keenan, and it was clear he had become obsessed with a desire to see the deal done. Ronald had referred to Graham and Doyle as "these two idiots".

The jury could take the view he had been on a "personal crusade" and that he had acted criminally, but it did not follow that Graham had also acted criminally.

Graham had used 350,000 given to him by Ronald to secure the release of the painting, and he and Doyle had delivered it to the meeting in Glasgow.

Mr Keenan said Graham had been assured by Ronald and "John Craig", the undercover officer, that a contract had been signed under which Graham was given permission by the duke to possess and transport the painting. It would protect him from prosecution.

"Without the lies spun by Marshall Ronald and John Craig, the return of the painting would not have happened. The only true conspiracy was between Marshall Ronald and John Craig to deceive Robert Graham," said Mr Keenan.

Maurice Smyth, for Doyle, said the Crown's contention that there had been a conspiracy among the five accused was a "mad idea."

He claimed Doyle and Graham had believed in their hearts that they were doing an honest thing.

The trial continues.