Three Men Trialed for $3.5M Golden Toilet Theft

Three men are currently on trial for the audacious theft of an 18-carat gold toilet, valued at $3.5 million at the time of the heist, from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Prosecutor Julian Christopher detailed how the suspects, part of a group of five, executed the theft in under five minutes on September 14, 2019, using stolen vehicles to gain access to the premises. The toilet, a functional art piece titled 'America' by Maurizio Cattelan, has never been recovered and is believed to have been dismantled for its gold. One defendant, Michael Jones, is charged with burglary, while Fred Doe and Bora Guccuk face charges related to the illegal transfer of stolen property. The trial at Oxford Crown Court is expected to last four weeks, with all defendants denying the charges against them. The incident highlights not only the audacity of the crime but also the cultural significance of the stolen artwork, which was previously displayed at The Guggenheim Museum in New York.