corby appeal hits legal brick wall

Corby appeal hits legal brick wall
Denpasar, Bali
August 3, 2005 - 4:32PM


Schapelle Corby's defence team hit brick wall today when three Balinese judges hearing her case refused to grant her Indonesian lawyers more time to find new witnesses.

Corby broke down in tears in the Denpasar District Court when the decision was handed down, effectively ending her reopened trial.

She was later taken back to her cell at Bali's Kerobokan prison.

The 28-year-old Gold Coast woman was sentenced to 20 years in jail on May 27 for trying to smuggle 4.1 kilograms of marijuana into Bali last year.

The Denpasar District Court later reopened the case on appeal, but her lawyers failed to produce key witnesses.

To keep her hopes of freedom alive, Corby's defence team must now lodge a second appeal and ask for more time from a higher court.

'Very, very sad'

Before the appeal hearing, Corby's lawyer, Hotman Paris Hutapea, said Corby was devastated the Australian Government had not been able to provide more help and said assistance from Canberra in the last few days was "already too late".

"She feels very, very sad, she feels lonely."

Mr Hutapea lashed out at Justice Minister Chris Ellison who has refused to travel to Bali for a meeting with the defence team, despite being in Jakarta today.

"I know your government doesn't want Corby to be free," he said.

Senator Ellison has offered to meet Mr Hutapea in Jakarta, an offer the lawyer turned down because he was too busy.

Outburst

The high-priced counsel said he had sent dozens of letters to all levels of government in Australia begging for help and denied he should have made time to travel to Jakarta tonight to meet the minister.

"There is no issue of pride," he said.

"I asked him to come to Bali, why not come to Bali? Yesterday I worked hard to talk to the witness, to prepare for the hearing today, but he insist to come to Jakarta so I report that to Corby and Corby is very very upset because there is no way we leave Corby just because we want to meet somebody from your country."

Hutapea also slammed Australians for allowing the Government to abandon Corby.

"Your country, your people, always think you are the best human being (sic) in the Earth," he said.

"But in fact your bloody airport, sending all marijuana to my own country, look at the Bali nine.

"So don't say any more that Australians are the most human law-abiders. In fact your front yard is very dirty."