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Bali drugs: Death sentence for Briton Lindsay Sandiford Bali drugs: Death sentence for Briton Lindsay Sandiford
(35 minutes later)
  
A 56-year-old British woman has been sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.A 56-year-old British woman has been sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.
Lindsay Sandiford was arrested in May last year after Bali police, carrying out a routine customs check, found 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine in the lining of her suitcase.Lindsay Sandiford was arrested in May last year after Bali police, carrying out a routine customs check, found 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine in the lining of her suitcase.
Sandiford, from Gloucestershire, has insisted she was set up and coerced into bringing the drugs to the island. Sandiford, whose last UK address was in Gloucestershire, said she was coerced into bringing the drugs to the island.
Her lawyers said they were "surprised" at the verdict and will appeal. Her lawyers said they were "surprised" at the verdict and would appeal.
Sandiford was held after a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.Sandiford was held after a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.
Prosecutors had recommended a 15-year sentence of imprisonment.Prosecutors had recommended a 15-year sentence of imprisonment.
But the judges said there were no mitigating circumstances and the defendant did not appear to care about the consequences of her actions.But the judges said there were no mitigating circumstances and the defendant did not appear to care about the consequences of her actions.
There was an audible gasp of surprise in the courtroom when the verdict was delivered.There was an audible gasp of surprise in the courtroom when the verdict was delivered.
Although the maximum penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia is death, the prosecution had recommended a 15 year sentence, saying Sandiford's age should be taken into consideration and the fact that she has no prior convictions.Although the maximum penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia is death, the prosecution had recommended a 15 year sentence, saying Sandiford's age should be taken into consideration and the fact that she has no prior convictions.
But delivering their verdict the judges said there were no mitigating reasons that convinced them they should reduce their sentence.But delivering their verdict the judges said there were no mitigating reasons that convinced them they should reduce their sentence.
They added that Mrs Sandiford did not appear to care about the consequences of her actions.They added that Mrs Sandiford did not appear to care about the consequences of her actions.
Walking out of the court room the 56-year-old from Gloucestershire appeared shocked, covering her head with a brown sarong, hiding her face from the glare of the cameras.Walking out of the court room the 56-year-old from Gloucestershire appeared shocked, covering her head with a brown sarong, hiding her face from the glare of the cameras.
Her lawyer has said they will definitely appeal. He added it is very rare that judges deliver a sentence that is so much harsher than what the prosecution has recommended.Her lawyer has said they will definitely appeal. He added it is very rare that judges deliver a sentence that is so much harsher than what the prosecution has recommended.
They said Sandiford has damaged the image of Bali as a tourism destination and weakened the government's anti-drugs programme. They said Sandiford had damaged the image of Bali as a tourism destination and weakened the government's anti-drugs programme.
Sandiford's lawyer said it was very rare that judges delivered a sentence so much harsher than the prosecution had recommended, the BBC's Jakarta correspondent Karishma Vaswani reported from the court.Sandiford's lawyer said it was very rare that judges delivered a sentence so much harsher than the prosecution had recommended, the BBC's Jakarta correspondent Karishma Vaswani reported from the court.
The defendant appeared shocked at the sentence and covered her head with a brown sarong to hide her face from the glare of cameras as she was led out after the verdict, our correspondent added.The defendant appeared shocked at the sentence and covered her head with a brown sarong to hide her face from the glare of cameras as she was led out after the verdict, our correspondent added.
Sandiford, who is originally from Redcar in Teesside, was accused of being at the centre of a ring involving three other Britons. Sandiford, originally from Redcar in Teesside, was accused of being at the centre of a ring involving three other Britons.
Last year, Paul Beales was sentenced to four years for possession of drugs and Rachel Dougall was jailed for one year for failing to report a crime.Last year, Paul Beales was sentenced to four years for possession of drugs and Rachel Dougall was jailed for one year for failing to report a crime.
The drug possession trial of Julian Ponder, from Brighton - who is believed to be Dougall's partner - is still taking place. He is alleged to have collected cocaine from Sandiford.The drug possession trial of Julian Ponder, from Brighton - who is believed to be Dougall's partner - is still taking place. He is alleged to have collected cocaine from Sandiford.
Sandiford's case had been taken up by the British human rights charity Reprieve, who said she had been "targeted by drug traffickers who exploited her vulnerability and made threats against her children".Sandiford's case had been taken up by the British human rights charity Reprieve, who said she had been "targeted by drug traffickers who exploited her vulnerability and made threats against her children".
At an earlier hearing, Sandiford's defence lawyer told Denpasar District Court that a history of mental health problems made her a vulnerable target for criminal gangs.At an earlier hearing, Sandiford's defence lawyer told Denpasar District Court that a history of mental health problems made her a vulnerable target for criminal gangs.
In a witness statement, written by Mrs Sandiford, she apologised to "the Republic of Indonesia and the Indonesian people" for her involvement.In a witness statement, written by Mrs Sandiford, she apologised to "the Republic of Indonesia and the Indonesian people" for her involvement.
She added: "I would never have become involved in something like this but the lives of my children were in danger and I felt I had to protect them".She added: "I would never have become involved in something like this but the lives of my children were in danger and I felt I had to protect them".
In another statement read out in court, her son Eliot said he believed his mother was forced into trafficking the drugs after a disagreement over rent money she paid on his behalf.In another statement read out in court, her son Eliot said he believed his mother was forced into trafficking the drugs after a disagreement over rent money she paid on his behalf.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that a British national is facing the death penalty in Indonesia. We remain in close contact with that national and continue to provide consular assistance.A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that a British national is facing the death penalty in Indonesia. We remain in close contact with that national and continue to provide consular assistance.
"The UK remains strongly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances.""The UK remains strongly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances."
Indonesia has some of the toughest anti-drug laws in the world, but BBC correspondents say executions are rarely carried out.Indonesia has some of the toughest anti-drug laws in the world, but BBC correspondents say executions are rarely carried out.
Five foreigners have been executed in Bali since 1998, all for drug crimes, according to Australia's Lowy Institute for International Policy.Five foreigners have been executed in Bali since 1998, all for drug crimes, according to Australia's Lowy Institute for International Policy.
Most of the 40 foreigners currently on death row have been convicted of drug crimes but there have been no executions for any offences since 2008.Most of the 40 foreigners currently on death row have been convicted of drug crimes but there have been no executions for any offences since 2008.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said that, as well as the legal avenues open to Sandiford's lawyers in Indonesia, there was also the possibility of pressure being applied by the UK government.
Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood said the verdict was unexpected and "very worrying" and he would seek to raise the sentence with Foreign Secretary William Hague.
"I'm appalled by this development," he told the BBC.
"We had been given encouraging signals by the Indonesian ambassador that Indonesia was moving away from the death penalty, that this was something that was associated with the days of the dictatorship, long since past."
Meanwhile, Sebastian Saville, the former chief executive of the human rights charity Release, said the sentence was "utterly deplorable".
But he said: "There are many people executed every year in local countries - Thailand, Cambodia - for much smaller amounts of drugs.... So it does not fall out of the remit for someone caught with 5kg of cocaine to be given the death sentence."
He added: "If we took a referendum in this country... should people caught with 5kg of cocaine be executed, yes or no... I think you'd be surprised about the number of yeses, as we live in a world which believes in punishment, not in fixing things."