Corby court appeal hearing ends

Corby says marijuana was stashed in her bag by someone else
A Bali court has ended the appeal hearing of convicted Australian drugs smuggler Schapelle Corby, giving her no further time to find more witnesses.
Corby broke down in tears when judges at the Denpasar District Court delivered their ruling.

The former beauty therapist is serving a 20 year jail term for smuggling 4.1 kg (9 lb) of marijuana into Bali.

She insists she is innocent, and claims that the drugs found in her surfboard bag were planted.

Corby's case has attracted widespread sympathy in Australia, and some people have even said they will not visit Bali in protest at her jailing.

Dashed hopes

The Denpasar District Court reopened Corby's case on appeal last month, but to the agitation of the court her lawyers found repeated problems in producing key witnesses, at least one of whom is in jail in Australia.

"This hearing is closed," judge Linton Sirait told the court on Wednesday, "although the possibility of having another one is not shut if there is a decision from the High Court."

To keep her another chance of freedom, Corby's defence lawyers must now lodge a new appeal and ask for more time to gather witnesses.

They also face an added difficulty, due to a judge's decision that video link testimony is inadmissible and all witnesses must appear in court in person.

That decision will reduced the chance for the defence to present several people they claim as key witnesses, including an Australian prisoner.

The man claims he heard another prisoner say that the drugs found in Corby's luggage were his.

Before the proceedings ended on Wednesday, the court heard evidence from two Australian check-in staff for Qantas Airways, who were on duty at Brisbane airport the day Corby boarded her flight to Bali.

They said they did not notice anything suspicious about Corby's luggage aboard the 8 October 2004 flight.

These two men, and an Indonesian law professor who appeared at the court last month - are all new witnesses to testify in Corby's defence, but analysts say her legal team were relying on others such as Paul who could actually say the drugs were not Corby's.

Just a reminder to all westerners visiting SE-Asia. Drug offences out here are taken VERY seriously. Try to refrain from drug over-use, i repeat over-use. A joint/pill or two here and there is alright in the privacy of your own room, but be discrete and NEVER take it from anyone who seems too nice. Most likely he/she will be an undercover cop or a tout trying to hook you. Many innocent people have been framed like this.
DO NOT GET CAUGHT/ ENGAGE IN THE COMPANY OF DRUG ABUSERS

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Spacy dreamer