diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/OPS mutt-1.5.20-trash/OPS
--- mutt-1.5.20/OPS	2009-05-13 01:01:13.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/OPS	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ OP_PREV_ENTRY "move to the previous entr
 OP_PREV_LINE "scroll up one line"
 OP_PREV_PAGE "move to the previous page"
 OP_PRINT "print the current entry"
+OP_PURGE_MESSAGE "really delete the current entry, bypassing the trash folder"
 OP_QUERY "query external program for addresses"
 OP_QUERY_APPEND "append new query results to current results"
 OP_QUIT "save changes to mailbox and quit"
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/PATCHES mutt-1.5.20-trash/PATCHES
--- mutt-1.5.20/PATCHES	2008-11-11 14:55:46.000000000 -0500
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/PATCHES	2009-07-23 09:53:20.000000000 -0400
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+patch-1.5.20.bk.trash_folder-purge_message.1
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/commands.c mutt-1.5.20-trash/commands.c
--- mutt-1.5.20/commands.c	2009-06-12 19:38:52.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/commands.c	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -716,6 +716,7 @@ int _mutt_save_message (HEADER *h, CONTE
     if (option (OPTDELETEUNTAG))
       mutt_set_flag (Context, h, M_TAG, 0);
   }
+  mutt_set_flag (Context, h, M_APPENDED, 1);
   
   return 0;
 }
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/curs_main.c mutt-1.5.20-trash/curs_main.c
--- mutt-1.5.20/curs_main.c	2009-06-13 22:48:36.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/curs_main.c	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -1803,6 +1803,7 @@ int mutt_index_menu (void)
 	MAYBE_REDRAW (menu->redraw);
 	break;
 
+      case OP_PURGE_MESSAGE:
       case OP_DELETE:
 
 	CHECK_MSGCOUNT;
@@ -1813,6 +1814,7 @@ int mutt_index_menu (void)
 	if (tag)
 	{
 	  mutt_tag_set_flag (M_DELETE, 1);
+	  mutt_tag_set_flag (M_PURGED, (op != OP_PURGE_MESSAGE) ? 0 : 1);
 	  if (option (OPTDELETEUNTAG))
 	    mutt_tag_set_flag (M_TAG, 0);
 	  menu->redraw = REDRAW_INDEX;
@@ -1820,6 +1822,8 @@ int mutt_index_menu (void)
 	else
 	{
 	  mutt_set_flag (Context, CURHDR, M_DELETE, 1);
+	  mutt_set_flag (Context, CURHDR, M_PURGED,
+			 (op != OP_PURGE_MESSAGE) ? 0 : 1);
 	  if (option (OPTDELETEUNTAG))
 	    mutt_set_flag (Context, CURHDR, M_TAG, 0);
 	  if (option (OPTRESOLVE))
@@ -2116,11 +2120,13 @@ int mutt_index_menu (void)
 	if (tag)
 	{
 	  mutt_tag_set_flag (M_DELETE, 0);
+	  mutt_tag_set_flag (M_PURGED, 0);
 	  menu->redraw = REDRAW_INDEX;
 	}
 	else
 	{
 	  mutt_set_flag (Context, CURHDR, M_DELETE, 0);
+	  mutt_set_flag (Context, CURHDR, M_PURGED, 0);
 	  if (option (OPTRESOLVE) && menu->current < Context->vcount - 1)
 	  {
 	    menu->current++;
@@ -2141,9 +2147,11 @@ int mutt_index_menu (void)
 	CHECK_ACL(M_ACL_DELETE, _("undelete message(s)"));
 
 	rc = mutt_thread_set_flag (CURHDR, M_DELETE, 0,
-				   op == OP_UNDELETE_THREAD ? 0 : 1);
+				   op == OP_UNDELETE_THREAD ? 0 : 1)
+	  + mutt_thread_set_flag (CURHDR, M_PURGED, 0,
+				  op == OP_UNDELETE_THREAD ? 0 : 1);
 
-	if (rc != -1)
+	if (rc > -1)
 	{
 	  if (option (OPTRESOLVE))
 	  {
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/flags.c mutt-1.5.20-trash/flags.c
--- mutt-1.5.20/flags.c	2008-12-16 22:50:09.000000000 -0500
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/flags.c	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -65,7 +65,13 @@ void _mutt_set_flag (CONTEXT *ctx, HEADE
       {
 	h->deleted = 0;
         update = 1;
-	if (upd_ctx) ctx->deleted--;
+        if (upd_ctx)
+        {
+          ctx->deleted--;
+          if (h->appended)
+            ctx->appended--;
+        }
+        h->appended = 0; /* when undeleting, also reset the appended flag */
 #ifdef USE_IMAP
         /* see my comment above */
 	if (ctx->magic == M_IMAP) 
@@ -87,6 +93,27 @@ void _mutt_set_flag (CONTEXT *ctx, HEADE
       }
       break;
 
+    case M_APPENDED:
+      if (bf)
+      {
+       if (!h->appended)
+       {
+         h->appended = 1;
+         if (upd_ctx) ctx->appended++;
+       }
+      }
+      break;
+
+    case M_PURGED:
+      if (bf)
+      {
+	if (!h->purged)
+	  h->purged = 1;
+      }
+      else if (h->purged)
+	h->purged = 0;
+      break;
+
     case M_NEW:
 
       if (!mutt_bit_isset(ctx->rights,M_ACL_SEEN))
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/functions.h mutt-1.5.20-trash/functions.h
--- mutt-1.5.20/functions.h	2009-04-30 01:36:17.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/functions.h	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ struct binding_t OpMain[] = { /* map: in
   { "toggle-write",		OP_TOGGLE_WRITE,		"%" },
   { "next-thread",		OP_MAIN_NEXT_THREAD,		"\016" },
   { "next-subthread",		OP_MAIN_NEXT_SUBTHREAD,		"\033n" },
+  { "purge-message",		OP_PURGE_MESSAGE,		NULL },
   { "query",			OP_QUERY,			"Q" },
   { "quit",			OP_QUIT,			"q" },
   { "reply",			OP_REPLY,			"r" },
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ struct binding_t OpPager[] = { /* map: p
   { "print-message",	OP_PRINT,			"p" },
   { "previous-thread",	OP_MAIN_PREV_THREAD,		"\020" },
   { "previous-subthread",OP_MAIN_PREV_SUBTHREAD,	"\033p" },
+  { "purge-message",	OP_PURGE_MESSAGE,		NULL },
   { "quit",		OP_QUIT,			"Q" },
   { "exit",		OP_EXIT,			"q" },
   { "reply",		OP_REPLY,			"r" },
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/globals.h mutt-1.5.20-trash/globals.h
--- mutt-1.5.20/globals.h	2009-06-03 16:48:31.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/globals.h	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ WHERE char *StChars;
 WHERE char *Status;
 WHERE char *Tempdir;
 WHERE char *Tochars;
+WHERE char *TrashPath;
 WHERE char *Username;
 WHERE char *Visual;
 
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/imap/message.c mutt-1.5.20-trash/imap/message.c
--- mutt-1.5.20/imap/message.c	2009-06-07 13:52:57.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/imap/message.c	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -867,6 +867,7 @@ int imap_copy_messages (CONTEXT* ctx, HE
         if (ctx->hdrs[n]->tagged)
         {
           mutt_set_flag (ctx, ctx->hdrs[n], M_DELETE, 1);
+         mutt_set_flag (ctx, ctx->hdrs[n], M_APPENDED, 1);
           if (option (OPTDELETEUNTAG))
             mutt_set_flag (ctx, ctx->hdrs[n], M_TAG, 0);
         }
@@ -874,6 +875,7 @@ int imap_copy_messages (CONTEXT* ctx, HE
     else
     {
       mutt_set_flag (ctx, h, M_DELETE, 1);
+      mutt_set_flag (ctx, h, M_APPENDED, 1);
       if (option (OPTDELETEUNTAG))
         mutt_set_flag (ctx, h, M_TAG, 0);
     }
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/init.h mutt-1.5.20-trash/init.h
--- mutt-1.5.20/init.h	2009-06-13 17:35:21.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/init.h	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -3180,6 +3180,16 @@ struct option_t MuttVars[] = {
   ** by \fIyou\fP.  The sixth character is used to indicate when a mail
   ** was sent to a mailing-list you subscribe to.
   */
+  { "trash",           DT_PATH, R_NONE, UL &TrashPath, 0 },
+  /*
+  ** .pp
+  ** If set, this variable specifies the path of the trash folder where the
+  ** mails marked for deletion will be moved, instead of being irremediably
+  ** purged.
+  ** .pp
+  ** NOTE: When you delete a message in the trash folder, it is really
+  ** deleted, so that you have a way to clean the trash.
+  */
 #ifdef USE_SOCKET
   { "tunnel",            DT_STR, R_NONE, UL &Tunnel, UL 0 },
   /*
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/mutt.h mutt-1.5.20-trash/mutt.h
--- mutt-1.5.20/mutt.h	2009-06-12 18:15:42.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/mutt.h	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@ enum
   M_DELETE,
   M_UNDELETE,
   M_DELETED,
+  M_APPENDED,
+  M_PURGED,
   M_FLAG,
   M_TAG,
   M_UNTAG,
@@ -701,6 +703,8 @@ typedef struct header
   unsigned int mime : 1;    		/* has a MIME-Version header? */
   unsigned int flagged : 1; 		/* marked important? */
   unsigned int tagged : 1;
+  unsigned int appended : 1; /* has been saved */
+  unsigned int purged : 1;   /* bypassing the trash folder */
   unsigned int deleted : 1;
   unsigned int changed : 1;
   unsigned int attach_del : 1; 		/* has an attachment marked for deletion */
@@ -873,6 +877,7 @@ typedef struct _context
   int new;			/* how many new messages? */
   int unread;			/* how many unread messages? */
   int deleted;			/* how many deleted messages */
+  int appended;                 /* how many saved messages? */
   int flagged;			/* how many flagged messages */
   int msgnotreadyet;		/* which msg "new" in pager, -1 if none */
 
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/muttlib.c mutt-1.5.20-trash/muttlib.c
--- mutt-1.5.20/muttlib.c	2009-05-18 20:11:35.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/muttlib.c	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -1460,7 +1460,9 @@ int mutt_save_confirm (const char *s, st
 
   if (magic > 0 && !mx_access (s, W_OK))
   {
-    if (option (OPTCONFIRMAPPEND))
+    if (option (OPTCONFIRMAPPEND) &&
+       (!TrashPath || (mutt_strcmp (s, TrashPath) != 0)))
+      /* if we're appending to the trash, there's no point in asking */
     {
       snprintf (tmp, sizeof (tmp), _("Append messages to %s?"), s);
       if ((rc = mutt_yesorno (tmp, M_YES)) == M_NO)
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/mx.c mutt-1.5.20-trash/mx.c
--- mutt-1.5.20/mx.c	2009-06-11 00:29:41.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/mx.c	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -773,6 +773,54 @@ static int sync_mailbox (CONTEXT *ctx, i
   return rc;
 }
 
+/* move deleted mails to the trash folder */
+static int trash_append (CONTEXT *ctx)
+{
+    CONTEXT *ctx_trash;
+    int i = 0;
+    struct stat st, stc;
+
+    if (!TrashPath || !ctx->deleted ||
+       (ctx->magic == M_MAILDIR && option (OPTMAILDIRTRASH)))
+      return 0;
+
+    for (;i < ctx->msgcount && (!ctx->hdrs[i]->deleted ||
+                               ctx->hdrs[i]->appended); i++);
+    if (i == ctx->msgcount)
+      return 0; /* nothing to be done */
+
+    if (mutt_save_confirm (TrashPath, &st) != 0)
+    {
+      mutt_error _("message(s) not deleted");
+      return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (lstat (ctx->path, &stc) == 0 && stc.st_ino == st.st_ino
+       && stc.st_dev == st.st_dev && stc.st_rdev == st.st_rdev)
+      return 0;  /* we are in the trash folder: simple sync */
+
+    if ((ctx_trash = mx_open_mailbox (TrashPath, M_APPEND, NULL)) != NULL)
+    {
+      for (i = 0 ; i < ctx->msgcount ; i++)
+       if (ctx->hdrs[i]->deleted && !ctx->hdrs[i]->appended
+           && !ctx->hdrs[i]->purged
+           && mutt_append_message (ctx_trash, ctx, ctx->hdrs[i], 0, 0) == -1)
+         {
+           mx_close_mailbox (ctx_trash, NULL);
+           return -1;
+         }
+
+      mx_close_mailbox (ctx_trash, NULL);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      mutt_error _("Can't open trash folder");
+      return -1;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
 /* save changes and close mailbox */
 int mx_close_mailbox (CONTEXT *ctx, int *index_hint)
 {
@@ -909,6 +957,7 @@ int mx_close_mailbox (CONTEXT *ctx, int 
 	  if (mutt_append_message (&f, ctx, ctx->hdrs[i], 0, CH_UPDATE_LEN) == 0)
 	  {
 	    mutt_set_flag (ctx, ctx->hdrs[i], M_DELETE, 1);
+            mutt_set_flag (ctx, ctx->hdrs[i], M_APPENDED, 1);
 	  }
 	  else
 	  {
@@ -931,6 +980,14 @@ int mx_close_mailbox (CONTEXT *ctx, int 
     return 0;
   }
   
+  /* copy mails to the trash before expunging */
+  if (purge && ctx->deleted)
+    if (trash_append (ctx) != 0)
+    {
+      ctx->closing = 0;
+      return -1;
+    }
+
 #ifdef USE_IMAP
   /* allow IMAP to preserve the deleted flag across sessions */
   if (ctx->magic == M_IMAP)
@@ -1130,6 +1187,12 @@ int mx_sync_mailbox (CONTEXT *ctx, int *
   msgcount = ctx->msgcount;
   deleted = ctx->deleted;
 
+  if (purge && ctx->deleted)
+  {
+    if (trash_append (ctx) == -1)
+      return -1;
+  } 
+
 #ifdef USE_IMAP
   if (ctx->magic == M_IMAP)
     rc = imap_sync_mailbox (ctx, purge, index_hint);
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/pager.c mutt-1.5.20-trash/pager.c
--- mutt-1.5.20/pager.c	2009-06-03 16:48:31.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/pager.c	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -2309,12 +2309,15 @@ search_next:
 	MAYBE_REDRAW (redraw);
 	break;
 
+      case OP_PURGE_MESSAGE:
       case OP_DELETE:
 	CHECK_MODE(IsHeader (extra));
 	CHECK_READONLY;
 	CHECK_ACL(M_ACL_DELETE, _("delete message"));
 
 	mutt_set_flag (Context, extra->hdr, M_DELETE, 1);
+	mutt_set_flag (Context, extra->hdr, M_PURGED,
+		       ch != OP_PURGE_MESSAGE ? 0 : 1);
         if (option (OPTDELETEUNTAG))
 	  mutt_set_flag (Context, extra->hdr, M_TAG, 0);
 	redraw = REDRAW_STATUS | REDRAW_INDEX;
@@ -2641,6 +2644,7 @@ search_next:
 	CHECK_ACL(M_ACL_DELETE, _("undelete message"));
 
 	mutt_set_flag (Context, extra->hdr, M_DELETE, 0);
+	mutt_set_flag (Context, extra->hdr, M_PURGED, 0);
 	redraw = REDRAW_STATUS | REDRAW_INDEX;
 	if (option (OPTRESOLVE))
 	{
@@ -2656,9 +2660,11 @@ search_next:
 	CHECK_ACL(M_ACL_DELETE, _("undelete message(s)"));
 
 	r = mutt_thread_set_flag (extra->hdr, M_DELETE, 0,
+				  ch == OP_UNDELETE_THREAD ? 0 : 1)
+	  + mutt_thread_set_flag (extra->hdr, M_PURGED, 0,
 				  ch == OP_UNDELETE_THREAD ? 0 : 1);
 
-	if (r != -1)
+	if (r > -1)
 	{
 	  if (option (OPTRESOLVE))
 	  {
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/pattern.c mutt-1.5.20-trash/pattern.c
--- mutt-1.5.20/pattern.c	2009-06-03 16:48:31.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/pattern.c	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -1347,8 +1347,10 @@ int mutt_pattern_func (int op, char *pro
       {
 	switch (op)
 	{
-	  case M_DELETE:
 	  case M_UNDELETE:
+	    mutt_set_flag (Context, Context->hdrs[Context->v2r[i]], M_PURGED,
+			   0);
+	  case M_DELETE:
 	    mutt_set_flag (Context, Context->hdrs[Context->v2r[i]], M_DELETE, 
 			  (op == M_DELETE));
 	    break;
diff -pruN -x'*.orig' mutt-1.5.20/postpone.c mutt-1.5.20-trash/postpone.c
--- mutt-1.5.20/postpone.c	2009-06-13 17:28:37.000000000 -0400
+++ mutt-1.5.20-trash/postpone.c	2009-07-23 09:44:40.000000000 -0400
@@ -276,6 +276,9 @@ int mutt_get_postponed (CONTEXT *ctx, HE
   /* finished with this message, so delete it. */
   mutt_set_flag (PostContext, h, M_DELETE, 1);
 
+  /* and consider it saved, so that it won't be moved to the trash folder */
+  mutt_set_flag (PostContext, h, M_APPENDED, 1);
+
   /* update the count for the status display */
   PostCount = PostContext->msgcount - PostContext->deleted;
 
