Upper Hutt man charged over theft of human toes
A man has been charged with stealing two toes from an exhibition of human remains in Auckland.
The 28-year-old Upper Hutt man appeared at Auckland District Court on Monday morning.
He is charged with improperly interfering with the dead body of an unknown person on May 4 and stealing two human toes from the Body Worlds exhibition on May 10.
The toes are valued at $5500, court documents said.
Body Worlds exhibitors did not want to comment. However, they confirmed the toes had since been returned.
The maximum penalty for stealing the toes is seven years imprisonment.
The man also faces two years imprisonment for interfering with a dead body.
He was remanded in custody on intimated guilty pleas to both charges and will appear at Wellington District Court on July 2.
The Body Worlds exhibition of dissected ‘‘plastinated’’ human bodies and body parts is currently being held at the Hilton Hotel in central Auckland.
It has caused controversy for 20 years, and makes a big play of its ‘‘public health’’ value, teaching visitors about the dangers of not looking after their health, exposing them to such sights as real blackened lungs, hardened arteries, and brains damaged by strokes.
It has been viewed by 45 million people worldwide. The exhibition runs until July 13.