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Bali prosecutors ask for eight-year jail term for Sara Connor and David Taylor Bali prosecutors ask for eight-year jail term for Sara Connor and David Taylor
(35 minutes later)
Bali prosecutors have called for Australian woman Sara Connor and her British boyfriend, David Taylor, to receive the same eight-year sentence over the alleged fatal assault of a local police officer, saying she had failed to admit her role in what happened.Bali prosecutors have called for Australian woman Sara Connor and her British boyfriend, David Taylor, to receive the same eight-year sentence over the alleged fatal assault of a local police officer, saying she had failed to admit her role in what happened.
Moments after the request was made Connor’s lawyer Erwin Siregar described the request as “extraordinary”. Moments after the request was made, Connor’s lawyer, Erwin Siregar, described the request as “extraordinary”.
“We ask time (to prepare) defence,” he said. “We ask time [to prepare] defence,” he said.
Connor, a mother of two, said nothing and was rushed to the holding cells after prosecutors made the sentence request at Denpasar Court on Tuesday. Connor, a mother of two, said nothing and was rushed to the holding cells after prosecutors made the sentence request at Denpasar court on Tuesday.
Connor, 45, has always maintained she was “innocent” and did nothing but try to separate her British boyfriend David Taylor and local police officer Wayan Sudarsa when they became embroiled in a fight on Kuta Beach in the early hours of 17 August last year. Connor, 45, has always maintained she was “innocent” and did nothing but try to separate her British boyfriend David Taylor and local police officer Wayan Sudarsa when they became embroiled in a fight on Kuta beach in the early hours of 17 August last year.
The pair had gone to trial facing charges of murder, fatal assault in company and assault causing death over the alleged killing of Sudarsa.The pair had gone to trial facing charges of murder, fatal assault in company and assault causing death over the alleged killing of Sudarsa.
But on Tuesday prosecutor Agung Jayalantara said they should not be convicted of murder – which carries with it a maximum penalty of 15 years. It was clear, he added, that the pair had not intended to kill the police officer.But on Tuesday prosecutor Agung Jayalantara said they should not be convicted of murder – which carries with it a maximum penalty of 15 years. It was clear, he added, that the pair had not intended to kill the police officer.
Instead, the prosecutor submitted they should be convicted of fatal assault in company, which carries a maximum of 12 years.Instead, the prosecutor submitted they should be convicted of fatal assault in company, which carries a maximum of 12 years.
Taylor, he said, was having problems renewing a visa to Australia and was feeling the pressure of a broken marriage and his relationship with Connor when the pair met up on 16 August.Taylor, he said, was having problems renewing a visa to Australia and was feeling the pressure of a broken marriage and his relationship with Connor when the pair met up on 16 August.
That night they went to dinner, had some drinks and then went down to Kuta Beach. That night they went to dinner, had some drinks and then went down to Kuta beach.
When they realised Connor’s purse had gone missing, Taylor confronted Sudarsa but did not get the response from the police officer he was hoping for.When they realised Connor’s purse had gone missing, Taylor confronted Sudarsa but did not get the response from the police officer he was hoping for.
Referring to a psychological evaluation of Taylor made after his arrest on 19 August, the prosecutor said: “Since there’s no help, (he) felt like he was being treated as suspect and the influence of liquor, it made the subject emotional and overwhelmed. Referring to a psychological evaluation of Taylor made after his arrest on 19 August, the prosecutor said: “Since there’s no help, [he] felt like he was being treated as suspect and the influence of liquor, it made the subject emotional and overwhelmed.
“(Taylor) felt very insulted and angry then they got involved in a fight.” “[Taylor] felt very insulted and angry then they got involved in a fight.”
After the fight, in which Taylor hit Sudarsa with a beer bottle, the prosecutor said the 34-year-old had reported that the police officer was still breathing. The pair then left him on the beach.After the fight, in which Taylor hit Sudarsa with a beer bottle, the prosecutor said the 34-year-old had reported that the police officer was still breathing. The pair then left him on the beach.
Jayalantara said this showed they did not mean to intentionally kill him.Jayalantara said this showed they did not mean to intentionally kill him.
However, he argued there was clearly some “guilt” attached to what they did on Kuta beach - with the pair taking and destroying Sudarsa’s identity cards and then later burning their clothes. However, he argued there was clearly some “guilt” attached to what they did on Kuta beach – with the pair taking and destroying Sudarsa’s identity cards and then later burning their clothes.
Taylor, the prosecutor told the court, had shown remorse, regret and had been up-front during the hearings Taylor, the prosecutor told the court, had shown remorse, regret and had been upfront during the hearings. But prosecutors alleged Connor had been convoluted in her responses and had not admitted to what she did.
But prosecutors alleged Connor had been convoluted in her responses and had not admitted to what she did.
In psychology reports given to the court, it stated Taylor felt regret at what had happened to Sudarsa and for “involving” Connor and failing to protect her.In psychology reports given to the court, it stated Taylor felt regret at what had happened to Sudarsa and for “involving” Connor and failing to protect her.
The matter is expected to return to court next week where both parties will present their defence.The matter is expected to return to court next week where both parties will present their defence.