Getty Artifacts are Returned to Italy, Civil Charges Dropped Against True

The return of the first four artifacts from the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles to Italy has benefitted Marion True, the former Getty curator, in her trial. True is facing charges of conspiring to obtain, on behalf of the Getty, archeological objects that had been stolen or looted. The agreement between Italy and the Getty on the return of the artifacts, announced in August, was signed on September 26, 2007. Media reports from the True trial, which resumed September 27, 2007, say that there was a “sense that the trial atmosphere had lightened as a result of the pact.” Promisingly, Italy has agreed to drop the civil charges against True, and Paolo Ferri, the prosecutor in the case, said that “he hoped that lesser criminal charges against her could now be negotiated.” Ferri said Italy’s goal “was not to put Ms. True behind bars but to make a point about illicit artifacts,” something Ferri felt had been successfully achieved...[more]