Tuesday, 17th October 2006 (3521 views)

Three English divers are today on trial in Italy accused of illegally diving and damaging a ship wreck when they took gold and silver coins from the sunken ship.

Nicholas Pearson, David Dixon and Kerr Sinclair allegedly stole valuables from the wreck of the Pollux, a ship that sank in 1841 off the coast of the island of Elba.

Some 311 French and Spanish gold coins were taken from the wreck as well as silver coins, gems and a gold locket that is rumoured to contain a lock of Napoleon Bonaparte's hair.

Prosecutor Guiseppe Rizzo lambasted the accused, stating that they "tricked" their way on board the wreck of the Pollux after initially only having clearance to retrieve tin ingots from the wreck of a British ship, sunk in 1916.

Mr Rizzo went on to say that the auction house became suspicious of the nature of the find when the men had tried to auction the valuables: "They questioned how such an extensive collection of gold and silver coins which were from France and Spain could have been on board a British merchant ship sunk in 1916."

The treasure that was removed from the Pollux is estimated to be worth in the region of £320,000. A French historian, Pascal Kainac, also stands trial for supplying the three men with maps and coordinates to assist them in finding the wreck.

 

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