Bali death row gran's new hope

A human rights campaigner is welcoming the Foreign Office's intervention in the case of two Yorkshire drug mules sentenced to death in Indonesia.

Minister Baroness Warsi has asked the Indonesian justice minister to allow Lindsay Sandiford who grew up in Bridlington, and Gareth Cashmore, from Wakefield to be sent to serve out their sentences in the UK. They were convicted of smuggling 14lbs of Crystal Meth last year.

Sandra Gregory was given the death sentence in 1993, but was later pardoned, after being caught with Heroin in Thailand.

Two convicted drug smugglers from Yorkshire, including a grandmother, who are facing execution in the Far East, have been given new hope of escaping the death penalty. The Government is in talks which could see their lives being spared. Tina Gelder's report contains flash photography.

The Foreign Office has confirmed that foreign office Minister Baroness Warsi has raised the issue of Lindsay Sandiford with the Indonesian president.

Their discussions have resulted in reports that two governments may strike a prisoner exchange deal which could free the 56 year old from the death penalty for drug smuggling.

The Mail on Sunday is reporting that Redcar woman Lindsay Sandiford, who's currently on death row in Bali for smuggling cocaine onto the island, could be returned to Britain to complete her jail term if a prisoner 'swap' deal goes is agreed.

It's reported that the move depends on whether the Indonesian and British Governments agree to swap Mrs Sandiford and another British prisoner for a suspect wanted by the Indonesians who currently lives in the UK. The suspect would be extradited.

If the agreement goes ahead, then Mrs Sandiford would avoid death by firing squad. She was sentenced to death after she was caught smuggling £1.6 million pounds worth of cocaine into Bail airport last year.

Meanwhile, Mrs Sandiford is currently awaiting the decision of her third and final appeal to the Indonesian supreme court to have the death penalty overturned. The outcome of that ruling is expected in October.

If the court refuses to overturn the sentence, then Mrs Sandiford's only hope would be a reprieve from the Indonesian president himself, a move which would be highly unusual.