Tony Abbott
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/lawrence-jailed-for-life/2006/02/13/1139679516835.html
Bali nine drug mule Renae Lawrence was sentenced to life in prison today for attempting to smuggle heroin to Australia.
The Denpasar District Court handed down the life term despite a call by prosecutors to sentence her to 20 years.
Today's verdict was the first handed down by the court.
The tough sentencing came despite calls by prosecutors to show some leniency as a reward for her cooperation with Indonesian police from almost the start.
Indonesian drug squad officers and prosecutors used information from her to establish the inner workings of the gang that tried to smuggle a total of 8.3kg of heroin from Bali.
Lawrence is the only woman among the Bali nine and was one of four so-called drug mules caught at Bali Airport with heroin strapped to their bodies.
Since her arrest on April 17 last year she has steadfastly maintained that she carried the drugs only after being threatened by the alleged bossess of the gang - Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - who face possible death sentence verdicts in court tomorrow.
However, the three-judge panel said they did not believe Lawrence's claim that she had faced death threats.
"The council of judges found no proof of the use of force in this crime, therefore the defendant has to be sentenced as fairly as possible,'' said one judge I Gusti Ngurah Astawa.
Chief judge I Kutut Widnya then announced that Lawrence had been found guilty and should spend the rest of her life behind bars.
Lawrence stared blankly ahead as the verdict and sentence were read out.
She then spoke briefly to her defence lawyer but was escorted out of the packed courtroom by guards before she could talk with her father Bob Lawrence.
Other Bali nine defendants will hear their verdicts over the next two days.
The two alleged masterminds of the drug ring - Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - will know tomorrow whether they are to be sentenced to death by firing squad.
The rest of the group are facing prosecution demands for life sentences.
Rafy said:Sentences so far:
DEATH
- Andrew Chan
- Myuran Sukumaran
LIFE IMPRISONMENT
- Renae Lawrence
- Scott Rush
- Michael Czugai
- Martin Stephens
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