Accused in Corsica treasure trial argues for part ownership of 'smuggled' Roman plate

The trial has begun in Marseille of a man accused of smuggling a national treasure after being caught with a Roman plate believed to be part of a mysterious hoard of sunken gold.

The hearing is the latest twist in what is known as the "lava treasure saga", which began almost 40 years ago on a fishing trip for sea urchins in the Mediterranean off the west coast of Corsica in 1985.

Félix Biancamaria, who is appearing in court, his twin brother and a friend discovered at least 100 rare gold coins dating to the third century and bearing the heads of Roman emperors. Biancamaria, now 67, from the Corsican capital, Ajaccio, was convicted in 1994 of having stolen the coins and he got an 18-month suspended sentence and €15,000 fine.

At the time, nothing was known about the plate he had discovered.

However, in 2010 he was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris, found to be carrying in his bag a rare golden plate, valued at €6m to €8m, arising from the same find.