Trial Continues Over Stolen Gold Treasure from Museum Break-In

The trial concerning the theft of a gold treasure over 2,000 years old continues as the defendants deliberate on whether to confess. The four accused individuals have yet to break their silence amidst the ongoing proceedings.

In the case of the gold theft from the Archaeological Museum in Manching, the four defendants were afforded another opportunity to address the allegations against them. The Ingolstadt District Court, after approximately three months of hearings, encouraged the accused to consider making a confession. The judges indicated that such a move could lead to more lenient sentences.

The defendants, comprising three men from the Schwerin area and one suspect from Berlin, allegedly stole the ancient gold treasure from the Celtic-Roman Museum in November 2022. The valuable collection, unearthed by archaeologists in 1999 in the small community near Ingolstadt, was hailed as the largest Celtic gold find of the 20th century and later became the museum's centerpiece. To date, most of the nearly 500 coins from this collection remain missing.

Thus far, the four accused have not made any statements regarding the allegations or the whereabouts of the gold treasure. Following the court's suggestion, the judges, defense attorneys, and prosecutors have discussed potential confessions behind closed doors. The court aims to consider any confessions that might reveal details about accomplices or the location of the stolen gold when determining potential sentences.

The prosecution has expressed a willingness to entertain a plea deal. Meanwhile, the attorneys representing a 47-year-old defendant have asserted that their client will not admit to the charges. The situation remains uncertain for the other three accused regarding whether they will choose to confess. The defense for one of the suspects has even hinted at the possibility of such an admission.

Additional court hearings are scheduled through October to further scrutinize the case.