[MSN] Australia. 'Family friend' link in art heist (including a reputed $150 million masterpiece by the 19th century French impressionist Paul Cezanne)

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Coolangatta 20C - 29C. Showers, thunderstorm Weather 

December 6, 2007 05:10pm
     
'Family friend' link in art heist

Gemma Patterson 

06Dec07 

Brett Michael Williams allegedly stole paintings -- including a reputed $150
million masterpiece by the 19th century French impressionist Paul Cezanne --
from northern NSW art restorer John Opit in February, 2004.

On Tuesday, defence lawyer Eoin Johnston told the Lismore District Court
that Mr Opit had allegedly confronted Mr Williams on Monday, the first day
of the trial. He said Mr Opit pointed his finger at Mr Williams in a 'pistol
fashion', making gun noises and telling him he had a 'contract' on him.

Then yesterday, day three of the trial, the court was told Mr Williams had
an indirect link to Mr Opit -- he is family friends with William Hamilton,
who had contracted Mr Opit to restore several of his paintings before the
2004 robbery.

Mr Williams, 46, has pleaded not guilty to breaking into Mr Opit's remote
Limpinwood art studio and stealing paintings and other items.

Mr Opit had returned home after five days away to find his studio ransacked
and a number of paintings and personal effects missing.

Four months later police, acting on a tip-off, found the paintings at a
Robina duplex, along with a jacket with DNA matching Mr Williams'. Some of
Mr Opit's other possessions were seized in a raid on Mr Williams' home.

In a police video played to the court yesterday, Mr Williams denied stealing
from Mr Opit, telling police he bought the items at a tip shop, a garage
sale, markets and at the pub.

"I do not know anything about a break and enter at Mr Opit's ... sorry, I
can't help you with anything along those lines," said Mr Williams.

Police discovered Mr Williams and Mr Hamilton were friends after finding Mr
Hamilton's business card at Mr Williams' home, the court was told.

Mr Williams told police Mr Hamilton was friends with his late father and
they had kept in contact, particularly when Mr Hamilton had undergone a
heart bypass. Prosecutor Jon Baxter-Wright said phone records revealed Mr
Williams and Mr Hamilton had almost daily phone contact in the month leading
up to the February, 2004, theft.

And, according to Mr Williams' mobile phone records, he called Mr Hamilton
from Murwillumbah in mid-February, the court was told.

In the police tape, Mr Williams said he 'may have' visited Mr Hamilton at
his Murwillumbah home in February, but he denied ever visiting Mr Opit's
Limpinwood property.

Mr Johnston said police had not sought phone records before January, 2004,
so they did not know what the usual 'pattern' of calls was between the pair.

The trial continues.

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