Being sentenced to death by hanging on his head for acting as innocent

Newspaper The Independent (UK) said on May 16 that retired British geologist Jim Fitton collected rocks and broken pottery from the Eridu ruins during an organized geological and archaeological tour.

Fitton, 66, and his German companion Volker Waldmann are facing the death penalty for allegedly smuggling artefacts in Iraq. Both appeared in court on May 15. They told a panel of three judges that they did not intend to commit a crime.

Mr. Jim Filton. Photo: PA

The stones and broken ceramic pieces mentioned above were found when the tour group was preparing to fly out of the capital Baghdad on March 20. Fitton said he “suspected they were antiques and did not know Iraqi law could attribute the death penalty to this act”.

“There are no fences, no guards or signs indicating that it is an offense to take them (stones and pieces of pottery). a geologist but has no intention of selling,” he emphasized.

Answer the radio BBC Earlier this month, Mr Fitton’s family in Bath said the 66-year-old was heartbroken after missing out on his daughter’s wedding.