Breaking News: Golan and Deutsch Acquitted of All Forgery Charges
Forgery Allegations Dismissed by James Ossuary Trial Verdict
On March 14, Jerusalem Judge Aharon Farkash found defendants Oded Golan and Robert Deutsch not guilty of all charges of forgery. The judge stated that there is no evidence that any of the major artifacts were forged, and that the prosecution failed to prove their accusations beyond a reasonable doubt. The alleged forgeries include the famous James Ossuary, whose inscription reads “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” The judge also found there was no clear evidence that several other ancient artifacts, including the “Three Shekels” ostracon, the “Widow’s Plea” ostracon and the Jehoash tablet, had been forged.
While all of the major charges were dismissed on grounds of lack of evidence of forgery, others were dropped due to the statute of limitations. However, Golan was found guilty of trading in antiquities without a permit and another minor charge. Deutsch was acquitted on all counts. Oded Golan will be sentenced on December 23, 2012.
Read BAR editor Hershel Shanks’s analysis of the trial here.
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I see, so the judge caved and allowed the case to be dismissed. He’s not innocent the case just got dismissed.
[…] to a criminal investigation, charges of forgery, and a sensational trial in Israel. Last spring the verdict came down: “Not […]
[…] to a criminal investigation, charges of forgery, and a sensational trial in Israel. Last spring the verdict came down: “Not […]
[…] Source: http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/breaking-news-golan-and-deutsch-acquitted-of-all-forgery-ch… […]
Praise be to Judge Aharon Farkash of the Jerusalem District Court for standing up for Justice! It is significant that the ruling came on PI Day 3/14. PI is a symbol of Truth and learning.
This trial has demonstrated that there are too few Scholars who will stand up to IAA manipulation. Jesus taught that Truth will set you free!
It is time for IAA to open the Talpiot Tomb to study be true schoiars, not stooges.
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[…] Rollston, Eric Myers, Matthew Kalman, James Tabor, Paul Barford, Hershel Shanks and the Biblical Archaeological Society, Jim Davila, Jim West, and many others that will surely follow.UPDATE: Blog posts on this topic […]
[…] Breaking News: James Ossuary Determined to Be Authentic (Brief Article) Biblical Archaeology Society Staff Report (Bible History Daily) […]
[…] http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/breaking-news-golan-and-deutsch-acquitted-of-all-forgery-ch… Rate this: Share this:Like this:LikeBe the first to like this […]
Finally it’s official. What a great day of vindication for all concerned.
[…] Biblical Archaeology Society: The Biblical Archaeology Society has just learned that the District Court in Jerusalem exonerated Oded Golan and Robert Deutsch of all serious charges of forgery. Judge Aharon Farkash stated that there is no evidence that any of the major artifacts were forged, and that the prosecution failed to prove their accusations beyond a reasonable doubt. The allegedly forgeries include the famous James Ossuary, whose inscription reads “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” Several other ancient artifacts, including the “Three Shekels” ostracon, the “Widow’s Plea” ostracon,and the Jehoash tablet, the first extant royal Israelite inscription, were cleared of charges by the “forgery verdict of the century.” […]
[…] […]