Menu Click here
website logo
Sign In| Sign Up
back back
Diamond trading
Search for Diamonds Manage Listings IDEX Onsite
diamond prices
Real Time Prices Diamond Index Price Report
news & research
Newsroom IDEX Research Memo Search News & Archives RSS Feeds
back back
Diamond trading
Search for Diamonds Manage Listings IDEX Onsite
diamond prices
Real Time Prices Diamond Index Price Report
news & research
Newsroom IDEX Research Memo Search News & Archives RSS Feeds
back back
MY IDEX
My Bids & Asks My Purchases My Sales Manage Listings IDEX Onsite Company Information Branches Information Personal Information
Logout
Newsroom Full Article

Millennium Dome Heist Culprit Looks To Walk Because Of ‘Sleeping’ Judge

December 23, 03 by

A British man, who was jailed earlier for planning the spectacular attempted robbery of £200 million in diamonds from Britain’s Millennium Dome in November 2000, is appealing his conviction on the grounds that the judge fell asleep during the trial.

 

Raymond Betson, who earlier was convicted together with William Cockram, Robert Adams and Aldo Ciarrocchi, for one of the most audacious robberies in British history.

 

However, their attempt to steal De Beers’ Millennium diamond display was foiled by a tip off to the police, who were waiting for them when the barged into the Millennium Dome, in Greenwich, in southeast London, in an earthmover, armed with sledgehammers, a nail gun, ammonia and smoke grenades.

 

Before the robbery the diamonds in the display cases were replaced with glass replicates. Betson, who was sentenced to 15 years for his part in the attempted robbery, is trying to get his entire conviction overturned.

 

His lawyers told the Court of Appeal they are trying to find two witnesses who were present at the original trial in the Old Bailey who will testify that the trial judge, Michael Coombe, fell asleep during proceedings.

Diamond Index
Related Articles

Newsletter

The Newsletter offers a quick summary of the past week's industry news and full articles.
Our Services About IDEX Privacy & Security Terms & Conditions Sign-Up Advertise on IDEX Industry Links Contact Us
IDEX on Facebook IDEX on LinkedIn IDEX on Twitter