[MSN] Appeals in theft of Edvard Munch masterpieces opens in Oslo court.

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Appeals in theft of Edvard Munch masterpieces opens in Oslo court


ASSOCIATED PRESS

2:54 p.m. February 20, 2007

OSLO, Norway - An appeal of convictions and acquittals in the 2004 theft of
the Edvard Munch masterpieces "The Scream" and "Madonna" opened in Oslo on
Tuesday with the court rejecting defense demands for a postponement.
The paintings - considered priceless - were recovered by police on Aug. 31,
just over two years after they were stolen by masked gunmen in a brazen
daylight heist at Oslo's Munch Museum. Both were damaged and are undergoing
repairs.

In May, the Oslo district court convicted three men of helping the armed
robbers, and sentenced them to prison terms of between four and eight years.
Three others were acquitted.

Both the defense and the prosecution appealed the rulings. The Borgarting
appeals court is hearing all six cases in a trial expected to last six
weeks.

Defense attorneys demanded a postponement, saying they had not been allowed
to see documents kept secret by police. Access to those documents, which
could reveal how police recovered the paintings, has been at the center of
an ongoing legal battle.

The defense also said the appeal cannot be heard while police are still
investigating the case. During the weekend, police said they had a new
suspect in the case and had interrogated several others.

Munch's emotionally charged painting style became a major influence in the
birth of the 20th-century expressionist movement. He died in 1944 at the age
of 80.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070220-1454-norway-munchtheft.htm
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