The trial into the theft of an orb and two 17th-century royal funeral crowns from a Swedish cathedral took an unexpected turn on Tuesday, amid reports that some of the missing items have been found.
Shortly before the proceedings opened, Stockholm daily Aftonbladet reported that a security guard found some of the items in a garbage container in a Stockhholm suburb early Tuesday. The newspaper cited unnamed sources.
Prosecutor Reena Devgun told the Eskilstuna district court that the proceedings would have to adjourn to allow the items to be inspected, Swedish television SVT reported.
Tuesday was the third day of the trial.
Police later issued a statement saying ‘everything suggests’ that the regalia have been found, adding that ‘police were working intensely to confirm this 100 per cent.’ The man on trial, Nicklas Backstrom, is charged with stealing a gold funeral crown, an orb made for King Charles IX (1550-1611), and a crystal-studded gold crown made for Charles' second wife, Kristina the Elder.
He has denied the charges although traces of his blood were found in the Strangnas Cathedral, west of Stockholm.
The court ruled that the hearing would adjourn after witnesses had given testimony, and said the prosecution was latest Friday to report back to the court.
The items were valued at 65 million kronor (7.2 million dollars). The prosecution, art experts and the church have designated the items as ‘irreplaceable’ and part of the national heritage.