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Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged

Time to Boycott Bali. Indonesia rules out a prisoner transfer to Australia. What neanderthals they are over there. Schapelle got 20 years. Here's the translator's edited transcript of the verdict and sentencing. Here's the Austrlian news blog's description of the reaction in the courtroom. Is this sentence really better than life? I'd say it is a life sentence...Schapelle's life as she knew it is over. And who lives 20 years behind the walls of a foreign prison? We live-blogged the two hour verdict reading (along with Blaghdaddy in the comments) as best we could given the awful audio feed from the courtroom to the Australian media which kept going in and out - and the sporadic translation.

  • 11:38 a.m. The Judge has been reading (screaming) for two hours. He's not done, but it's all over for Schapelle. Shorter version: She must be convicted because drugs are a menace to Indonesia and police are more credible than civilians.
  • 11:31 a.m. Judge says evidence is pointing to her guilt. Mentions lack of fingerprint testing and excuses it. They've considered Schapelle's defense that she was a victim of drug traffickers....but because importation of drugs hurts Indonesian people....

  • 11:25 a.m. Court dismisses testimony of Schapelle's expert witness who said she didn't fit the profile of a drug trafficker. Police get more credibility because they are sworn officers of the law. Dismisses the testimony of the male inmate who testified for Corby about the jailhouse converstation he overheard - because he wouldn't name the baggage handler he said put the drugs in Schapelle's bag. (As it was, the guy got stabbed in his cell when they returned him to prison after his testimony.)
  • 11:23 a.m. News blog says Corby is crying now. The Judge was screaming the opinion directly at her.
  • 11:19 a.m. Judge is talking about the damage her bringing drugs in caused to the Indonesian people. "Given testimony,"... translator says he's rehashing prosecution's case and now says "Given prosecution's arguments". Sounds over for Schapelle.
  • 11:16 a.m. Judge is shouting. "Considering all that..." Feed just went out again, but it sounds like a guilty verdict.
  • 11:09 a.m. Translator is back. She says the judge is so worked up she can't understand him. The customs officer's testimony was corrorborated by another witness. That doesn't sound good. The police witness said she said "no, no" when they asked her to open the bag. This is going downhill quick.
  • 10:56 a.m. Audio is back. Translator isn't saying anything.
  • 10:45 a.m. Judge is recapping testimony of convicted felon who testified for Schapelle about what he heard in his jail cell in Australia about planting drugs. Telgraph recap of verdict so far. SMH Australia has this recap. Translator has lost the feed. Now the feed is back but they are interviewing someone.
  • 10:34 a.m. The translator reports the Judge is recounting Schapelle taking the bag through customs and the discovery of marijuana. It sounds like the Judge is reciting her version of what happened. But the audio is so in and out it's hard to tell. He recites her witnesses who said that she had nothing else in the bag but her board and flippers. He recites her denials.
  • 10:26 a.m. The translator reports the Judges say she didn't act like a drug smuggler, she had no prior involvement, and the prosecution has brought no witnesses with direct evidence of her involvement. That sounds positive, but the audio keeps going in and out and I am not hearing everything. The live news blogger must not be hearing the translator either since he's doing far more descriptive coverage of the courtroom than he is reporting what the Judge is saying. I have to say, the Australian media is not doing a great job with the live feed coverage and the translator is awful. [We're on the second translator, the first, who was officially translating for Schapelle, had her media feed cut by the Court]
  • 10:10 a.m. The live audio feed is very difficult to hear. The Judges are speaking in Indonesian and the translator is struggling to keep up. This is the same translator that Schapelle is listening to. They're still reciting the facts. It's very incomprehensible. And certainly not a word for word translation.
  • 9:36 a.m. The judges are on the bench and about to read the 79 page verdict.
  • 9:30 a.m. The tv news live blog has begun. They are seated in the courtroom. Schapelle has arrived.

It is now 8:00 am, Friday, May 27, 2005 in Bali. Schapelle Corby awaits her fate for allegedly smuggling 4 kilos of marijuana (9 pounds) in her boogie-board bag while en route to Bali for a vacation. She maintains her innocence

Three judges will decide her fate at 9 a.m., Bali time. The Chief Judge has never acquitted a drug defendant. He will read the judgment, expected to be 80 pages and take 2 1/2 hours. Then he will pronounce her fate. It is widely expected she will be found guilty and sentenced to life in the Indonesian prison where she has been held for the past seven months.

You can listen live to the live translation of the verdict here. Latest videos from the courthouse are here. Our prior coverage is here and here.

Schapelle says the drugs must have been planted. The recent breakup of a large-scale airport baggage handlers' cocaine smuggling ring might support her claim. More:

The day police allege a Sydney drug ring brought almost 10 kilograms of cocaine through Sydney Airport with the help of corrupt baggage handlers is the same day Schapelle Corby flew to Bali from the same airport.

But Indonesian authorites won't consider the arrests, because news of them didn't appear in the media, and were not learned of by the defenese, until after the trial had ended and the evidence was closed.

A network news video timeline of her case from arrest to today is here.

Update: Jeff Seaman for Congress and Swing State Project join the boycott.

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    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#1)
    by Aaron on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    This kind of barbarism is alive and well here in the United States, where he have some 140,000 people incarcerated for marijuana offenses. The Canadian prime minister recently stated that only a barbaric country would continue to prosecute and hand out prison sentences for marijuana offenses. Just a couple of decades ago in Texas (the George Bush state), you could get 20 years in prison for having one joint. Yes, we Americans are so civilized, nothing like those Neanderthals in Bali.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Aaron, 4 kilos of marijuana carries 10 to 16 months in the U.S. federal system. Not a possible sentence of death by firing squad or life in prison as it does in Indonesia.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Blagh thanks you for the kind word about Canada, Aaron... It really is a different world up here, folks...marijuana is not officially decriminalized yet, but the courts have made it clear that they will not convict someone of the Canadian equivalent of a felony (indictable offense) if they have less than 1 ounce (28grams) of marijuana in their possession...if you're walking down the street with a half-quarter (a laughable 1/8 of an ounce), you could toss it in the air walking past a cop...at worst, you'll get a citation for possessing less than an ounce, which is akin to a jaywalking ticket...no record... So the heavy traffickers are still on the hook, but the small-time dealers and purveyors are unmolested... The situation in Bali blows Blagh's mind...do people still think weed is evil?...he shudders...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Blagh got through to the streaming video satellite link in the courtroom...he's got no picture, but he can hear the Ausralian anchors discussing the proceedings...anyone else got it? This is incredible...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Blagh's got sound and picture live...Holy FS!!

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Looks like she's not going to face the squad, from what they're saying...the question is, if a conviction, how many years, and how likely a conviction....

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Is anyone listening to the verdict? Or is it a freakin' bedtime story? Get to the point!!! Is Blagh the only one finding this very creepy?

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Keep us posted, Blagh...It won't let me on the live blog. Too many connections.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    They're telling the whole tale of how the boogie board was in her luggage with another package...more to come soon...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    She took two bags to the airport...didn't pay much attention to the bags...didn't think about anything...and she knew that after the Bali bomb incident that the bags were likely to be searched...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Blagh, the audio keeps going in and out on me. What url are you using?

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    They're saying that "the suspect" has asked for a fair judgement because she wants to go home...she will respect any judgement that's handed down... Someone's bringing out a report....blah blah blah....more in a bit...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    It's the nineMSN link, it's really bad...keeps cutting out to buffer...can't find the URL but will keep looking for it...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#14)
    by Aaron on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    LeftTalk I would never belittle the seriousness of this injustice, but it's an injustice that goes on all the time in Indonesia and elsewhere. It's only news here and in the Western world because it's a Caucasoid (white) person. I guess my point is that it's a matter of degrees, executing someone for marijuana possession is a monumental injustice. Maintaining marijuana in the same category with cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines also does not serve justice. And criminalizing people for something that's about as harmful as beer is also an injustice. But these injustices are tied together by one mindset that must be fought collectively.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Blagh, that's the same feed I'm listening to. It's terrible. But you've caught parts I've missed, so keep reporting what you hear, ok?

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Blagh is betwixt and between...as the son of a black man, he's listening to the whole thing, thinking, "Ah, now the other side knows what it's like to be judged for one's race..." As the son of a white woman, he can relate to Corby's Western culture and can only imagine the horror she's undergoing at this moment... A very mixed-emotion time for Blagh...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    They've cut away and two Aussies are blathering away over the proceedings...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    On the case, TL...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    They're talking to Corby's lawyer...asking him if the pardon they've asked is still on the table...he says absolutely...he says they'll push every avenue available...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#20)
    by Tony on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    The judges or a the blathering Aussies are talking to her lawyer?

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Damn this feed! Sitting in cyber space waiting for another hook...at least the connection doesn't go down...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Back up...the translator can't make out what the official's saying..she's pissed...says it's his delivery...are they playing tennis?...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    sheesh, i'm on the edge of my seat here. keep it up guys.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    I lost the feed entirely, I'll try to get it back. Keep going, Blagh. So far, it sounds like it could go either way. I doubt it will go her way, but still, it's not a slam dunk yet.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    An official-sounding Aussie is talking about how bad the airport problem is, and they're looking into it...talking about someone who found a brick of marijuana in his luggage but no one's questioned him about it...no one's interviewed him...lots of shady stuff going on in Bali, folks...the Aussie's saying he finds it extraordinary that people could be reporting finding marijuana in their luggage and Balinese officials haven't interviewed ONE person... He just asked, "Could someone have planted the drugs in Corby's luggage for the EXPRESS purpose of baiting her to allow other bigger mules through at the same moment?" The dude says, "Well, that's what we're trying to find out, but no one's looking at it..." Oh wait...There is apparently something rotten in Corby's past, some family history- damn! he didn't say what it was... More charge reading...this translator should be fired or given a medal... TL, Blagh's running out for about 15, but he's keeping his link up and will resume updates upon his return... Have fun everyone...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    blagh's on hold, things may be heating up...relating the x-ray, bag was collected by the suspect and taken thru the channel for goods not to be declared...took it thru the green zone instead of the red zone...recognizing all of the above... "He's gotten so worked up it's difficult to understand what he's saying," the translator just said...LOL "He's still talking about the events at the airport..." She's now recapping and has abandoned any attempt to translate...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    Judge was saying that importation of drugs is "a danger to Indonesians..." "Police witness verified she said 'No, no!' when they asked her open the bag..." Yikes Link just buffered, Blagh's gonna scram and come back as soon as poss....see ya soon!!

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    It's going downhill fast.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#29)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:22 PM EST
    "The damage that her actions will cause by bringing in drugs-" TL, it sounds like a lynch mob in there...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    "He's rehashing the case," the translator is saying in disgust..."Considering the arguments made by the prosecutor..." This girl's gettin' fried, folks...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#31)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Link's down again.... TL, from what we can pick up, it sounds like the judges are taking turns frothing at the mouth over her "actions," which doesn't sound like an acquittal is imminent... It's either "sound and fury" in anticipation of giving her a break, or she's toast...at least from what Blagh's picking up...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#32)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    the youngest judge is polled first, so the elders don't impose their own view...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#33)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Damn it, Blagh can't hang on any longer...gotta go...from the looks of it, they'll still be "firing up the troops" when he gets back...hang in everyone...this is surreal...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#34)
    by TomK on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    You know what? I hate the entire western world. The only time they care about anything is when it's happening to a pretty young white girl. What about that parapalegic that died in the jail after being sentenced to ten days for his medical pot? Ohh, no one cares because he is deformed. What about, I don't know, the entire black population of tulia? Where is the countdown here? Who gives a ** what happens to the black people. But put a pretty young white girl in tears on TV, all the sudden the drug war is seen as barbaric. I realize TL and friends are on the side of good, but this case in no way deserves this much attention. There are worse atrocities happening to people all over the world (look what happened in Thailand). Maybe this will be the straw that breaks the camels back, though. That would be good. I hope the girl is alright.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#35)
    by TomK on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    I'm sorry. I don't mean to come off at angry at your coverage. You had good coverage of all those things. I'm angry at the consumers of the coverage that there isn't this much interest in atrocities that don't involve pretty young white girls. The tone of my post came off wrong. Again, I apologize.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#36)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    There was a bill introduced before congress today which was about, "no more Tulias.."

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#37)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    This is incredible...are they convicting her yet "taking into account the fact that she's a victime of drug traffickers?" That's what they seem to be saying, that although she may have been duped, "the law be the law.." TL, is this what you're getting?

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#38)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Because of the number of people that handled the bag, there was "no sense" printing it....oh, yeah....

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#39)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Tom, chill. I covered the parapalegic drug inmate. Multiple times. One world, I wrote about the Tulia Texas bill today. And covered Tulia from start to finish. You don't want to read about Schapelle, go somewhere else.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#40)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    TL, did you get that earlier reference to Schapelle's "family history"?

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#41)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Blagh, she's getting slammed all right. And not because she's guilty.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#42)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    her father was busted for pot many many years ago...not sure how much...little or a lot?

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#43)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    No, it's because "the law is the law." Even if you didn't do it...holy mother of "wouldn't wanna be ya!" situations....this, folks, is justice, third world style...almost as brutal as a Southern race trial in the 40's....

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#44)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    She can hear the guy screaming, but she doesn't know what the decision is 'cause the guy's incoherent...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#45)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    He's fining her, she has until next Wednesday to accept the verdict or appeal...what was the verdict? Aaahhhhhh!!!!

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#46)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Stay as far away from Bali folks or any third world country for that matter. I hope the people of Australia boycott the hell out of them.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#47)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    "it's not possible to do anymore, it's too noisy...that's it- I'm sorry." It appears the translator has left the building....

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#48)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    She's being led back to her prison cell...going live to Mark Burrows...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#49)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    aussie news page says "The judges said that based on the evidence and testimony from witnesses, the charges of importing illegal drugs into Indonesia were convincingly proven." which means guilty...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#50)
    by TomK on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    I did chill. I'm not upset at your coverage, you have great coverage of all these issues. You strike a very helpful tone with these issues, and present these issues very well. I'm upset that the people who watch the news don't care as much about that other coverage. In my anger, I lost my mindfulness and was not clear in my choice of language. Sorry. Insofar as I sounded like you were the problem here, I misspoke, and apologize. The thing is, the verdict doesn't matter at all. This girls life is over. Look at her. There is no way she is escaping this without PTSD. Even if she is pardoned, and returned home to her family, she is going to (understandably) be a wreck for years. I hope this outrage will provoke some people in our own country to look more closely at the drug war. Someone needs to do some research on people in situations similar to Corby's in the US, so that maybe some good can come out of this evil.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#51)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    "She was saying 'please God help me' and looking at us as she prayed...she thought she was going home today...here comes the family, they're absolutely hysterical over the verdict..."

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#52)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    "She must be convicted because drugs are a menace to Indonesia and police are more credible than civilians." So this means the police are judge, jury and executioner? God. Maybe she can escape like in Bankok Hilton. My heart goes out to her.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#53)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    just because she is a "pretty, white girl" doesn't make her case any more or less unfair. it doesn't seem like any of the mainstream media here in the states has even covered the story. she, along with many others i'm sure, are pretty much screwed. it's not fair for anyone, but i won't dismiss it because of who she is. i hope there is a tourist boycott.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#54)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Well, Blagh's feed has gone down again, so he'll take this opportunity to wish everyone a good night...Thanks again, TL, for a great forum and place to gather 'round the cyber-cooler... Goodnight all, and God Bless... Blagh out...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#55)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Well, Blagh's feed has gone down again, so he'll take this opportunity to wish everyone a good night...Thanks again, TL, for a great forum and place to gather 'round the cyber-cooler... Goodnight all, and God Bless... Blagh out...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#56)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Thanks, Blaghdaddy, you were a huge help. This was the most frustrating event to cover - the worst live feed ever. But, at times I felt like I was in the courtroom, so I'm glad we covered it--

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#57)
    by Tony on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Sentenced to twenty years in prison. Just incredible. This whole thing is just sickening.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#58)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    You asked about the father's history... he had a very small pot bust (2 grams) back in the 70's. Blagh is one angry dude.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#59)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Outrageous and insane This is one more human rights outrage, if you think its not going to be hell for her inside that evil nightmare you must be insane. she is as much a victim as anyone can be. this is nothing but a setup, and she will be raped beaten and torture and in the end she will just be disappeared into the system of a third world prison system and killed. maybe bush can call it justice, god help Schapelle Corby. by the way read about the system of so called third world justice in indonesia ideas, you must know about what has happened to others inside that system right? and you do know about the cops who are sworn to al qaeda right? just read the human rights people on that evil little system if you can call it a system of justice.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#60)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    OK, 20 years is a bad sentence. It's not death, though. Now her government has time to work through diplomatic channels to bring her home.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#61)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Blagh may be angry, but he's also very funny at times. He's very welcome here.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#62)
    by Aaron on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Regardless of whether she is innocent or guilty of the offense, this is not justice. It sounds like there was quite a bit of mitigating evidence that in a US court would have raised reasonable doubt. These so-called courts of law that they have in Indonesia are more concerned with the larger social issues involved then they are with justice for the individual. Their idea is to make an example of someone, innocent or guilty it doesn't matter, so they can maintain control of their population. The court system in such cases is little more than an arm of the executive branch of government These kind of rulings make me appreciate the US legal system. The international war on drugs, is in fact little more than a war on people who are involved with drugs.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#63)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    I doubt she would survive 20 years in that prison - the best she can hope for is that the prisoner exchange treaty between Australia and Indonesian gets signed and Australia paroles her when she gets there. Otherwise, it probably is a death sentence.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#64)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Oh well. Back to work.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#65)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    What a shame this is, poor girl. Here in California, we have the 215 medical marijuana law that allows one to have a certain amount of pot on them at any given time, mind you, this so called "small government" Administration is desperately trying to stick it's snotty nose in 215 business where it doesn't belong and shut 215 down any chance it gets. So much for drowning government in a bathtub, eh. Anyways, the real reason of this post is maybe a long shot, but I might as well ask if anyone has a way to contact or write to Corby to show her our support and let her know that she is not alone, and not without friends. Staring down 20 years in Indonesian prison, all that may keep her going is the knowledge that people care, believe her, and are willing to keep in contact with her over the ordeal.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#66)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    You can write Schapelle at Schapelle Corby LPM Kerobokan Jl. Tangkuban Perahu Kerobokan, Denpasar 80117 Bali, INDONESIA Official Schapelle sites (including donation information) are: Innocent Without a Doubt and DontShootSchapelle

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#67)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    If she was Asian, no-one here would care. There are something like 14 Australians on death row in other countries, but...the Howard government knows how to check which way the wind is blowing, and dirty Indonesian apes + nice white girl = a firm response from the government. Where's the pro bono QCs for all the other Australians in Asian prisons? Where are the prisoner exchanges for them? I guess they weren't as photogenic and "wholesome" as Corby...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#68)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Blagh has one point he wishes to make about last evening's travesty... Amid all the "barbarians" talk, has it occurred to any of you Bush apologists that Schapelle got more justice than anyone will in America's gulags? Sure, it was a foregone verdict, but she got a trial, she got legal representation, and she's going to be afforded the right to appeal...the world's watching, and anything can happen...and Bali's justice system is out there for anyone to observe and comment upon... Let's go to America, land of the "free..." If you are a suspected terrorist (not a proven terrorist, just suspected of being one), you will be detained indefinitely without the right to legal counsel, without the right to a trial, without the right to hear the evidence against you, without the right to do anything except eat dirt and hope you don't get a "Palestinian Hanging" party...all while having been convicted (or even charged) of nothing.... And you all think America's "just?" A third world country and brutal dictatorship just showed the world a suspect will get a "fairer" trial within its borders than any suspected terrorist will get from America... Are you embarrassed? You bloody well should be....

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#69)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    The Canadian Prime Minister said it best, barbarism. Shackling a human being over plants is far more criminal than smoking or transporting plants. Jail the judges I say, they are animals.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#70)
    by Jlvngstn on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    Blagh, although the feed was bad and the coverage was choppy, i have to say that I enjoyed your coverage very much. thanks. I will make a donation to her site (has anyone checked the credibility of the sites or do I need to do that?)

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#71)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:23 PM EST
    I'm distraught for this girl too. But where is the anger against the people whose actions have caused her to be in this situation? Indonesian law is what it is. If you turned up at any airport in the world with 4.5 kg of marijuana in your luggage you'd have a case to answer and it could go either way. If it wasn't Schapelle's then there must be people out there who it belongs to. And people who know who it belongs to. And who know how it got into her boogie board bag between Brisbane, Sydney and Denpasar. An operation like that involves more than one person and relies on others turning a blind eye. But they've all kept quiet ... and guess what? They're fellow Australians. Boycotting Bali won't change that. Maybe someone who knows something will now have trouble sleeping at night and come forward. I fear this is her only hope.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#72)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:24 PM EST
    Thank you TL. Thank you Blagh (you urban guerilla you). Headlines in Boston Globe are old lady beaten to death and three kids drown in Vermont in tragic stream accident (the accident was tragic not the stream). MFox shares Blagh's mixed emotions (in third person). Sadly, I would get more justice in Bali (or at least more media attention) than would my son who is brown-skinned. If the detainees in Gitmo appeared more caucasian then certainly due process would have found them more quickly. That said, Shappelle's verdict is a horrible tradgedy and an indictment of the moral ambiguity, the acceptance of the status quo and the hypocrisy we tolerate in our collective governments. On a lighter note (no disrespect to Corby), it's the first time in my memory that I can plead "Let my people go"!

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#74)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:24 PM EST
    Justice is done. We take the Koran to the biff and flush it down. They take a marijuana mule and flush her through their 'system'. What goes around comes around. Either we all respect and love one another or we all get flushed down the toilet. It's Karma. My heart goes out to Schapelle. She is the ultimate scapegoat. You can't have it both ways. Either we leave Iraq and respect the Muslim way of life or we become daily targets of their 'justice'. The US have weaved a tangled web of deceit.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#75)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:24 PM EST
    Hey, Tim Dunlop linked to you guys regarding Corby and I followed it. You dont seem to have a trackback feature so Ill just link to my post on the matter here.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#76)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:24 PM EST
    The notion that this verdict has anything whatsoever to do with the war in Iraq is ignorant and niave to say the least. Is antipathy between Australia and it's neighbours a brand-new phenomena? Everything was hunky-dory between Australia the ASEAN nations? Sure, that must be why ASEAN is eager to admit Australia. Oh, wait, they're not. The war in Iraq is stupidity incarnate, and abuse of the Koran is unjustifiable in any situation, but to link those events to the Corby trial is simply ignorant.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#77)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:25 PM EST
    It is ignorant. It is stupid. It is naive. Pardon the complete ignorance, stupidity and naivete. The Bush crew has lied since day one. The lies have never stopped. Didn't the US Treasury have a 3 trillion dollar surplus? The Bush Cabal made sure it was handed to them in 2001. How many trillions later is it now? The Judge in the Schappelle Corby case decides that the story from the defendant is not true, a lie, and she did indeed traffic the marijuana, he metes out her punishment with as much ferocity as the Bush Cabal uses on Iraq. George Bush ignorantly and naively lashed out on the Muslim world and a lot of people have died. A lot of real stupid stuff has happened since then. It isn't really justice being done in the courtroom in Bali, but a war on people, too. I know I conflated it to the preposterous, but I think it is a symptom of something really weird going on all over the world. Then, it becomes a parallel situation. It is ignorant, stupid and naive, and I'm guilty. I'm the first to admit how stupid, ignorant and naive I really am. Not that hard to do. I know enough to not to try and haul nine pounds of marijuana into Bali. It makes no sense. I think Schappelle Corby knew better, too. People are stupid, ignorant and naive and fall prey to lies. Some suffer consequences greater than the harm done. It becomes pure chaos at that point. George Bush supposedly told lies and a lot of people have died. Stupidity, ignorance and naivete prevail. Justice is done.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#78)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:25 PM EST
    Tom K, thanks for the clarification. Sorry I jumped on you.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#79)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:26 PM EST
    20 years is absolutely rediculous! But what really gets me is the popular assumption of innocence....because she's a photogenic white girl? G I V E - M E - A - B R E A K ! (What if Corbis was an unattractive 40 year old black man???!) "27 year old white girls aren't stupid enough to risk their life for $5000 in pot" G I V E - M E - A - B R E A K ! (I know a lot of 27 year olds. Believe me, there are more than a few out there that aren't playing with a full deck of cards.) What makes me laugh is that people can take one look at this person and can know with 100% certainty that she is telling the truth. I don't know if she is innocent or guilty. However, I don't give her the benefit of the doubt because of her appearance. Being able to judge a book by its cover is a great ability....something I do not possess.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#80)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:27 PM EST
    I Boycott Bali and will not vote again for a gvernment that gives aid to them. We need a taskforce to resque her and I am prepared to support such a cause.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#81)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:30 PM EST
    And who lives 20 years behind the walls of a foreign prison?
    Umm. There are countless incidents of foreign nationals spending lots of quality time in prisons, away from their native countries. Don't forget that we've put foreign nationals to death and still probably have many on death row at this very moment. I find it funny that - generally speaking - most of the people who are unbelievably angry about Chapelle spending 20 years in an Indonesian prison never concerned themselves with the conditions of said prisons until this case. Curiouser and curiouser...

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#82)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:31 PM EST
    I live in the United States, a nation somewhat similar to Australia in many respects, from what I understand. I cannot vouch for Corby's guilt, and I cannot vouch for her innocence, but I can state with ABSOLUTE assurances that one does not make it onto either an American or Australian flight in possession of 4 kg of cannabis. I don't inherently trust Corby, either, having never met her, but I do know that she was arrested getting OFF of the flight, and that the bag in question was checked. This means that the bag was out of her possession. In civilized countries, this means that the track history of the bag must be investigated prior to formal charges. In civilized countries. That would not be Indonesia. Secondly, the issue here is not over one woman. Hence, people boycott Bali, which I, too, advise. Australia's government has recommended keeping respect for Indonesia's courts in mind when making criticisms of their system. I agree. At the same time, and in the same fashion, one does not criticize the method by which a pack of rabid dogs puts a person on trial. They are dogs, and they have their ways. We are in no position to judge them. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of another civilized human to pull any potential victim out of the dogs' path. In short, let Indonesia's government continue to support criminals as they will. (Drug problems like those in Bali do not arise without either government support or disengagement.) When one does finally save a person from the rabid animal, one does not ever go in search of the animal again. One allows the animal to wander as it will, but always stands ready to shoot the dog should you meet again. Job 1: Get the person away from the rabid dog. Job 2: Stay away from the dog. Job 3: Watch out for the dog and others like him.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#83)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:40 PM EST
    Indonesia = dog ? nice one ;^) USA = honorable USA = right USA...civilized ? LMAO. Good 'ol American arrogance.... Goat Boy, please, let us hear more.

    Re: Schapelle Corby - Guilty As Charged (none / 0) (#84)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:41 PM EST
    I´m currently traveling around South America for a couple of months and meeting lots of travelers from all over the world. Here´s an interesting persective I´m hearing over and over: Shapelle's horrible predicament is fairly closely related to American politics. It's because of 9/11 and the Iraq war and the resulting security hype that Shapelle's bag was unlocked and open for baggage handler drug smugglers. Like most travelers now, she left her bag unlocked rather than go through the check-in security hassle or risk having her bag damaged if airport officials wanted to get into it. But before 9/11 & the Iraq war just about everyone locked their luggage and baggage handlers couldn't get into it easily. I travel all over the world, especially in the Third World, and I totally agree with the non-Americans who bring this up with me. Forgive me for now going off the political topic, but if you travel here's some vital advice, so please continue reading. There are luggage locks with special internal "keyholes" used specifically by airport officials and Customs -- buy them and use them. These locks have green and red indicators that show if the lock was opened using your combination or with the Customs device. At least it's something to help prove someone else got into your luggage! Most backpacks don't have a way to lock the main compartments, which are usually closed by drawstrings at the top. It took me 20 minutes to punch some eyelets in the fabric around the top of the compartment, so I can now run a luggage lock through the eyelets after drawing the fabric tight. In order to get into my pack someone's got to open or cut off the lock or cut the fabric of the backpack. Not as effective, but you can also go to your hardware store and buy packs of those cheap plastic threadable disposable closure strips like you often find wrapped around new electrical cords. Since you can't carry a knife to cut these things off yourself, get a nail clipper without a file (which you can't take on a plane because it's a lethal device...) and keep it with you to cut the strips when you reach your destination. You can't prove you had these things on your luggage when you checked it in, but maybe the fact that someone has to make the effort to cut these things off your luggage in order to get into it will help deter them.