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Bali drugs: UK government accused over Lindsay Sandiford's legal funding Bali drugs: UK government accused over Lindsay Sandiford's legal funding
(35 minutes later)
The UK government's refusal to pay for a lawyer for a grandmother sentenced to death in Bali breaches her "fundamental rights", judges have heard.The UK government's refusal to pay for a lawyer for a grandmother sentenced to death in Bali breaches her "fundamental rights", judges have heard.
Two High Court judges are being asked to rule that the Foreign Office's failure to arrange "an adequate lawyer" for Lindsay Sandiford is unlawful.Two High Court judges are being asked to rule that the Foreign Office's failure to arrange "an adequate lawyer" for Lindsay Sandiford is unlawful.
Sandiford, 56, from Gloucestershire, was found guilty of drug trafficking after 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine was found in her suitcase in May 2012.Sandiford, 56, from Gloucestershire, was found guilty of drug trafficking after 4.8kg (10.6lb) of cocaine was found in her suitcase in May 2012.
She faces death by firing squad.She faces death by firing squad.
The High Court heard a notice of appeal was filed with Indonesian officials earlier this week and she was given a 14-day deadline to file grounds of appeal.The High Court heard a notice of appeal was filed with Indonesian officials earlier this week and she was given a 14-day deadline to file grounds of appeal.
The Foreign Office has said the government does not fund legal representation for British nationals abroad, but Sandiford's case was being raised through diplomatic channels.The Foreign Office has said the government does not fund legal representation for British nationals abroad, but Sandiford's case was being raised through diplomatic channels.
Her case has been taken up by British human rights charity, Reprieve, which seeks to protect the interests of prisoners worldwide. Her case has been taken up by British human rights charity, Reprieve, which is seeking a judicial review of the government's decision.
'Resources exhausted''Resources exhausted'
Aidan O'Neill QC said Sandiford was urgently in need of funding because she was currently without legal assistance and her family had exhausted all of their available resources. Aidan O'Neill QC, of law firm Leigh Day, said Sandiford was urgently in need of funding because she was currently without legal assistance and her family had exhausted all of their available resources.
He told Mrs Justice Gloster and Mrs Justice Nicola Davies that without government funding there was "no prospect" competent counsel would be appointed to represent her on appeal.He told Mrs Justice Gloster and Mrs Justice Nicola Davies that without government funding there was "no prospect" competent counsel would be appointed to represent her on appeal.
The Foreign Office could make arrangements, or provide funds to an expert non-governmental organisation like Reprieve, Mr O'Neill said.The Foreign Office could make arrangements, or provide funds to an expert non-governmental organisation like Reprieve, Mr O'Neill said.
The judges heard a lawyer had been found in Indonesia who was willing to waive fees and act pro bono, but required "operational costs" estimated at £2,500.The judges heard a lawyer had been found in Indonesia who was willing to waive fees and act pro bono, but required "operational costs" estimated at £2,500.
Mr O'Neill said the Foreign Office's blanket ban on providing legal representation to British nationals overseas meant it had unlawfully fettered its own discretion.Mr O'Neill said the Foreign Office's blanket ban on providing legal representation to British nationals overseas meant it had unlawfully fettered its own discretion.
The government was breaching its obligation to the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to protect her right to life and not to face the death penalty, he said. The government was breaching its obligation to the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to protect her right to life - and not to face the death penalty - he said.
He said it had also violated the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and departed, without giving a good reason, from the government's own policy strategy for the abolition of the death penalty.
This included a commitment to provide adequate legal assistance in countries which retain the death penalty.
Briton jailed
Sandiford is originally from Redcar in Teesside but her last UK address was in Gloucestershire.Sandiford is originally from Redcar in Teesside but her last UK address was in Gloucestershire.
She was arrested after a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, and accused of being at the centre of a ring involving three other Britons. She was arrested after a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, and accused of being at the centre of a drugs ring involving three other Britons.
She has repeatedly denied that she was attempting to sell drugs in Bali, insisting that she had been coerced into bringing cocaine onto the island. She has repeatedly denied she was attempting to sell drugs in Bali, insisting that she had been coerced into bringing cocaine into the island.
One of the Britons, Julian Ponder, 43, from Brighton, was jailed for six years earlier this week after being cleared of smuggling but convicted of possessing 23g of cocaine.
The two other Britons were also cleared of trafficking and received sentences of four years and one year each.