Brit facing firing squad appeals
Lindsay Sandiford's lawyer says her sentence is "not fair" and has launched an appeal after her conviction for drug smuggling in Bali.
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Government 'objects' to Brit woman's Bali death sentence
Sandiford lawyer criticises 'fundamentally flawed' decision
The lawyer representing Lindsay Sandiford has said that she will be "devastated" by today's High Court loss against the government's refusal to fund her appeal against her death sentence.
Richard Stein from Leigh Day said:
– Richard Stein, Leigh DayMrs Sandiford and her sister, both out in Bali, will be devastated by this decision. Whilst we have a judgment, we do not have the reasons for it.
We await these before being able to formulate an appeal to what we believe is a fundamentally flawed decision.
Sandiford's lawyers can still ask Court of Appeal to intervene
Lindsay Sandiford's lawyers still have the option open to ask the Court of Appeal to intervene in her case.
Aidan O'Neill QC told the court a competent lawyer had been found who was willing to waive fees and act pro bono, but required "operational costs", estimated at £2,500, to be met.
Dismissing Sandiford's case, Mrs Justice Gloster said: "We entirely understand the deep concerns of Mrs Sandiford and her family about Mrs Sandiford's predicament in Indonesia, but we must apply the law as we hold it to be."
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Sandiford case dismissed, update on Monday
British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford has lost her High Court battle today over a government refusal to fund her appeal against a death sentence imposed by an Indonesian court, after she was found guilty of drug smuggling.
Mrs Justice Gloster said that the court understood "the deep concerns of Mrs Sandiford and her family about Mrs Sandiford's predicament", but her case was dismissed for reasons to be given on Monday.
Aidan O'Neill QC said Sandiford was urgently in need of funding because she does not have legal assistance and her family have exhausted all of their available resources.
Lindsay Sandiford loses High Court battle
British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford has lost her High Court battle today over a government refusal to fund her appeal against a death sentence imposed by an Indonesian court, after she was found guilty of drug smuggling.
FCO faces pressure to assist death sentence cases
13 British nationals have received death sentences in foreign countries and 51 more are potentially facing the same sentence, according to evidence submitted to the High Court by the FCO.
Aidan O'Neill QC said it was suggested that FCO assistance would "open the floodgates" and create several difficulties.
However, he suggested that the amount being sought to meet the costs of an Indonesian lawyer for Lindsay Sandiford was not a substantial amount of money.
Martin Chamberlain, appearing for the FCO, said it would be difficult to limit a strategy of providing assistance to death sentence cases.
He said there would be pressure to extend the scheme it to other human rights cases where the "human dignity" of other British nationals came under threat.
Lawyer willing to act pro bono for Lindsay Sandiford
During a hearing at London's High Court, Aidan O'Neill QC said that a competent lawyer has been found in Indonesia for Lindsay Sandiford who has been sentenced to death for drug smuggling,
Mr O'Neill said that the lawyer is willing to waive fees and act pro bono, but requires "operational costs" estimated at £2,500 to be met.
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QC: Lindsay Sandiford's 'fundamental rights' breached
The Government has been accused of breaching the "fundamental rights" of a British woman sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug smuggling by refusing to pay for legal representation.
Two judges at London's High Court are being asked to rule that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's failure to arrange "an adequate lawyer" for Lindsay Sandiford is unlawful.
Aidan O'Neill QC said Sandiford was urgently in need of funding because she is currently without legal assistance and her family have exhausted all of their available resources.
Mr O'Neill said there was "no prospect" that competent counsel would be appointed to represent Sandiford on appeal without the Government providing some funding.
Sandiford Lawyer: Government has human rights 'duty'
– Richard Stein, Leigh Day law firmThe Government has a duty to ensure that the human rights of British citizens are protected and that those sentenced to death, or suspected of or charged with a crime for which capital punishment may be imposed, have adequate legal assistance at all stages of the proceedings.
"This judicial review will challenge the Government's refusal to fund the £2,500 in expenses it would cost for a qualified Indonesian lawyer to represent Lindsay in her appeal against execution by firing squad which will take place on the beach in Bali if the Government do not act."
Legal funds action over Bali drugs Brit
Urgent court action is being brought against the Government over funding for legal representation for a British grandmother sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug smuggling.
The law firm involved in the case says the High Court challenge is against a decision not to arrange "an adequate lawyer" for Lindsay Sandiford, 56, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Sandiford, originally from Redcar, Teesside, was given the death penalty by a court in Bali last week for taking 10.6lb of cocaine onto the island.
Law firm Leigh Day, which is working with the charity Reprieve, said it would cost around £2,500 to pay for an adequate lawyer to take on her case and is seeking a judicial review of the Government's decision not to pay.
Sandiford had not been properly represented since her arrest at Bali airport in May last year, when customs officers found the drugs sewn into the lining of her suitcase, it said.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has said that the Government does not fund legal representation for British nationals abroad, but Sandiford's case was being raised through diplomatic channels.
FCO: Legal representation not provided for Britons overseas
In response to a move to sue to UK government over its failure to fund legal representation for a British woman sentenced to death for drug smuggling in Bali, the Foreign Office have said:
We strongly object to the death penalty and continue to provide consular assistance to Lindsay and her family during this difficult time.
We have made repeated representations to the Indonesia authorities and the Foreign Secretary raised Lindsay Sandiford's case with Dr RM Marty Natalegawa, Indonesian Foreign Minister, during the recent November State Visit of the Indonesian President.
– Foreign Office spokesmanWe understand that, under Indonesian law, Lindsay has at least two further avenues of appeal through the courts as well as an opportunity to apply for presidential clemency should these be unsuccessful.
HMG does not provide legal representation for British nationals overseas. However, we assist British nationals in identifying potential legal representation, including by working closely with NGOs. We will continue to raise this case on diplomatic channels.