Man weeps over wounded Warhol print

NEW YORK, June 3 (UPI) -- The owner of an Andy Warhol silk screen reportedly wept in a New York court at the trial of the woman accused of stealing the rare work.

The New York Post reported composer Steve Loeb cried in Manhattan Supreme Court as he recalled dropping his treasured "Mao" print at Frameworks to have new UV-protected glass installed early last year, then going to pick it up only to to be told they didn't know where it was.

Police allegedly tracked the work to store employee Kelly Bucala.

The 33-year-old New York woman, who is charged with grand larceny, has admitted she had a friend wrap Loeb's Warhol in a garbage bag and sneak it back to the store. However, the Post said she also insists her boyfriend snatched the work and she was simply trying to return it.

In the process of stuffing the "Mao" through security gates, Bucala's friend allegedly twisted the print, damaging it. So instead of being worth about $127,000, it's now valued at only $15,000 and it appears insurance won't cover the loss.

"It was the primary image of my life," Loeb, who said he bought the print for $800 in 1978 when he was 19.