Fed: Australia will oppose death sentences against nine: PM

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2006
Fed: Australia will oppose death sentences against nine: PM

CANBERRA, Feb 13 AAP - Australia will oppose any death sentences handed down to members
of the Bali Nine, Prime Minister John Howard says.

Two of the group, 19-year-old Scott Rush and Renae Lawrence, 28, will be sentenced
today if convicted.

They face a possible maximum penalty of death for allegedly conspiring to smuggle 8.3kg
of heroin from Bali to Australia.

Prosecutors have demanded Rush of Brisbane be sentenced to life behind bars and Lawrence,
the only woman among the nine, to 20 years.

Lawyers for the two say they expect the court to hand down lighter penalties.

Mr Howard today refused to comment on any individual case but said the government would
oppose any death sentences handed down.

"The important thing is to wait and see what the Indonesian justice system hands down
and then react accordingly," he told reporters.

"We have a long-standing opposition to the death penalty and it's well known that if
a death penalty is imposed on an Australian we ask that that death penalty not be imposed.

"I don't think now is the time to become specific about these particular people, it's
better to wait until the sentences have been handed down."

Prosecutors have recommended the death penalty for two of the Bali nine, Andrew Chan
and Myuran Sukumaran.

AAP jcg/sb/maur/de

KEYWORD: INDON NINE HOWARD

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