Two Dutch Beatles fans are demanding hundreds of thousands pounds in damages over the “unlawful” seizing of behind-the-scenes tapes of the band.
Stan Snelleman and Jos Remmerswaal, who are music traders, allege that more than 500 audio tapes of recording sessions in 1969 — which formed the basis of the film and album Let it Be — were seized by British and Dutch police 12 years ago. They are pursuing a civil case for damages of euros 650,000 (Dh2.5 million) plus euros 50,000 in costs from the Dutch state.
The tapes were given back to Apple Films Ltd, owned by the Beatles and their heirs. Their case is expected in an appeal court in The Hague in January.
Apple alleged that the tapes had been stolen. Two British men, Nigel Oliver and Colin Dillon, were charged in July 2006 over the disappearance of the tapes. Dillon was given a suspended sentence for trying to sell them. Charges against Snelleman — who said he bought the tapes in the Nineties — and Remmerswal for handling stolen goods were dropped. They sued for the return of the tapes in 2013 and lost, but are appealing. An Apple spokesman said she had no comment to make.
