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Aussie woman's trial reopens
20/07/2005 08:01 - (SA)
Denpasar - The trial of an Australian woman convicted of drug smuggling reopened in Indonesia's Bali island on Wednesday but key witnesses expected to testify in her favour failed to appear.
A district court in Bali sentenced Schappele Corby to 20 years in prison in March for smuggling 4.1kg of marijuana into the resort island.
The Bali High Court later granted a request by Corby's lawyers for the reopening of the trial to hear new witnesses who could support her claim that the drugs found in her possession were placed there by someone else.
But only an Indonesian law professor, Indriyanto Seno Adjie, took the stand as an expert witness at Wednesday's hearing, which was presided over by the same judges who convicted her.
"We will request an extension on the trial at today's hearing to allow witnesses to testify later," defence lawyer Erwin Siregar told AFP before the start of the hearing.
Corby's legal team wants to bring Australian police chief Mick Keelty to Bali to give evidence, as well as two prisoners who allegedly heard about the drugs and the alleged owner of the stash - a former prison inmate who denies any knowledge of the marijuana.
The Australian government has refused an immunity deal for possible criminal witnesses backing Corby's claims of innocence as that would be illegal under Australian law.
But Australian Prime Minister John Howard has said his government was ready to discuss prisoner transfers with Indonesia and would also help arrange videolink facilities for the trial if requested.
Corby's case has generated huge sympathy in Australia and several suspicious packages sent to the Indonesian embassy in Canberra have been linked to her plight.
- AFP
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