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| Pregnant Briton on trial in Laos | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A pregnant British woman accused of smuggling heroin has gone on trial in the Laotian capital, Vientiane. | |
| Samantha Orobator, 20, from south London, was allegedly caught with 1.5lb (680g) of the drug at Wattay airport in Vientiane last August. | |
| Her trial had been delayed while officials in Laos tried to find out how she became pregnant in a women's prison | Her trial had been delayed while officials in Laos tried to find out how she became pregnant in a women's prison |
| She could have faced a mandatory death sentence, but the execution of pregnant prisoners is not allowed in Laos. | She could have faced a mandatory death sentence, but the execution of pregnant prisoners is not allowed in Laos. |
| The UK has recently signed a prisoner transfer agreement with Laos, which means Ms Orobator could serve any potential sentence in a British jail. | The UK has recently signed a prisoner transfer agreement with Laos, which means Ms Orobator could serve any potential sentence in a British jail. |
| Ms Orobator has been held for nine months in Phongthong prison, where she reportedly became pregnant in December. | Ms Orobator has been held for nine months in Phongthong prison, where she reportedly became pregnant in December. |
| Death penalty | Death penalty |
| British human rights charity Reprieve has called for Ms Orobator to be returned to the UK before the final stages of her pregnancy. | British human rights charity Reprieve has called for Ms Orobator to be returned to the UK before the final stages of her pregnancy. |
| A spokeswoman said: "We really want her home by June 6. That is the first day of her third trimester and she needs to travel before then. | A spokeswoman said: "We really want her home by June 6. That is the first day of her third trimester and she needs to travel before then. |
| "Whether she is acquitted, pardoned or tried and convicted and serves her sentence in this country, she needs to be out of that prison by then." | "Whether she is acquitted, pardoned or tried and convicted and serves her sentence in this country, she needs to be out of that prison by then." |
| The death penalty is mandatory for anyone anyone caught with more than 1lb (500g) of heroin in Laos. | The death penalty is mandatory for anyone anyone caught with more than 1lb (500g) of heroin in Laos. |
| However, the Laos government has previously said a pregnant woman would receive a lesser sentence. | However, the Laos government has previously said a pregnant woman would receive a lesser sentence. |
| Spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing told the BBC: "We would not sentence a pregnant woman to the death penalty." | Spokesman Khenthong Nuanthasing told the BBC: "We would not sentence a pregnant woman to the death penalty." |