Famous Australian lawyer to fight for Sukumaran

Australian barrister, Lex Lasry QC, who attemped to save the life of Van Nguyen in Singapore, has accepted the task of defending Bali Nine kingpin, Myuran Sukumaran.

Sukumaran is in Kerobokan jail in Bali, along with the other members of the gang. He and fellow ringleader Andrew Chan are facing execution, after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle heroin and were given the death sentence by Denpasar District Court.

Mr Lasry was unsuccessful in preventing Singapore from executing Van Nguyen, but maybe something can be achieved in Bali. He pointed to the Australian government’s commitment to avoiding the death penalty as key to the defense.

Living in Seminyak, I never hear anything about the Bali Nine from expats or locals. When people say ‘they put you in a cell, and throw away the key’ its not far from the truth. These people are living 5 minutes away from the center of Seminyak, and could stay there many years, without people here even thinking about them. Best hope for Chan and Sukumaran, is Australia figuring out a prisoner transfer with Indonesia, and getting their sentences commuted to life.