Schapelle Corby sentenced to 20yrs

[Matt]

many probably have no idea what this is about, all in Australia undoubtedly know

http://au.news.yahoo.com/050527/21/uhyf.html

basically what happened was:

October 8, 2004: Schapelle Corby is arrested at Denpasar Airport (Bali) after Customs officers found 4.1 kilograms of marijuana in her bodyboard bag. Corby had flown to Bali from Brisbane, via Sydney, with some friends and a family member

Today she was sentenced to 20yrs in prison.

I personally believe she is innocent. Why would someone import drugs, marijuana at that, to a country where theres a death penalty for drug smuggling?

Not only that but drugs in your bodyboard bag is asking to get caught. It makes no sense at all, shit, you can even legally grow 3 marijuana plants in Australia. She was not a drug user or dealer either. There's absolutely no MOTIVE or EVIDENCE. All they have is possession, but those familiar with the case know about the alleged cocaine smuggling in sydney (baggage handlers transfer drugs by putting them in peoples bags and getting them at the destination) airport. They didn't even lift a single print off the bag in which the weed was.

So, she got 20 years which is shocking it would have been more if not for the high profile of the case). She was guilty before a trial ever took place. The prosecution couldn't even make an argument BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT that the drugs were hers and she smuggled them. Where is the justice. Just another reason to stay out of countries that hav shitty legal systems.

I'm guessing the Bali 9 will get death sentences.

[Fresh8]

Hey Matt... since ur more wise in the legal profession stuff....

one question: There was not enough evidence to prove her guilt or innocence right?

Shouldnt we be satisfied with the sentence?

[Matt]

i dont know much about criminal law but if she is innocent then she should be free, if she's guilty then she should be exstatic she only got 20yrs.

In Australia, or America for example, even if she really is guilty, she would be found innocent/acquitted based on the fact that the prosecution had no solid evidence and their whole argument was CIRCUMSTANCIAL. Here you have to prove BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT.

[Matthew]

No solid evidence? I wouldve thought being cuaght red handed with it is pretty strong evidence...

And you cant say that their systems is wrong becuase its different. I'd much rather live in a system where drug dealers get 20 years than a place that lets child sex offenders get away scot free.

[Jowe]

The bali bombers only got 20 years..
so where's the justice there.

Weed = 20 years
A Planned massacre = 20 years.

[Matt]

one of the Bali bombers got 3 yrs

No solid evidence? I wouldve thought being cuaght red handed with it is pretty strong evidence

it could just as well have been a set up. She had no access to her bag from Sydney to Bali, after she saw it last there are people that do have access to it. Just because the drugs were in her bag does not mean she put them there. There was no DNA evidence on that drug bag to even prove that she touched it.

And you cant say that their systems is wrong becuase its different. I'd much rather live in a system where drug dealers get 20 years than a place that lets child sex offenders get away scot free.

It is a different system, but it doesn't necessarily serve justice. It's guilty or innocent, whoever makes the stronger case wins. Is it right that someone gets convicted for something they didn't do? I don't know whether she's innocent or guilty, but a fair legal system would at least give her a fair trial, and with a fair trial i would accept the sentence.

The Australian legal system on the other hand is too soft but at least people get fair trials.

[J@3]

Good, serves the drug smuggling bogan right. They have a different legal system to us, none of this "beyond reasonable doubt" shit. She got a fair trial. It's not her fault her defense team were useless, example:

How did she not notice that her boogie board was suddenly 4kg's heavier?

Answer: Her brother was the one who carried it off the luggage belt.

This was not told in court, so for all they know she took it herself. Not to mention that according to her father, he was the one who originally packed the bag (and looks like a druggo lol).

All of this "oh I've found God" stuff, it was a ploy to get on the good side of the highly religious judges. I'm glad it didn't work, the evidence was just overwhelming. They asked her to unzip the bag, she unzipped the small zip... they then asked her to unzip the big zip (where the weed was), she got nervous and didn't want to. I mean wtf.

I haven't had an opinion either way since the case started, but I've read/heard enough today and through the last few weeks to be almost 100% certain she was guilty. The only evidence she had was "I didn't say that"... and some bloke from Victoria getting himself bashed up over nothing. Not to mention "Mad" Ron claiming the judges asked for bribes way to go team!

The Bali bombers sentence is completely irrelevent. This is a media bandwagon case, if she was fat and ugly (like Renae Lawrence for instance, possible ringleader of the Bali 9) no one would give a shit.

[Matthew]

The bali bombers only got 20 years..
so where's the justice there.

Weed = 20 years
A Planned massacre = 20 years.

Amrosi got a death sentence, not 20 years.

Graham Williams (hih founder) = 4 years jail

Multiple driving offenders who have injured or killed kids = suspended sentences.

Every legal system has its flaws.

one of the Bali bombers got 3 yrs

He wasnt a bali bomber, he conspired...

it could just as well have been a set up. She had no access to her bag from Sydney to Bali, after she saw it last there are people that do have access to it. Just because the drugs were in her bag does not mean she put them there. There was no DNA evidence on that drug bag to even prove that she touched it.

Does that mean there was a possibility that the guns found in Ivan Milats house werent his?! OMG! Set that man free!

She was caught red handed, she has to deal with the punishment.

It is a different system, but it doesn't necessarily serve justice. It's guilty or innocent, whoever makes the stronger case wins. Is it right that someone gets convicted for something they didn't do? I don't know whether she's innocent or guilty, but a fair legal system would at least give her a fair trial, and with a fair trial i would accept the sentence.

What was so unfair about the trial? The fact that they didnt believe her? It happens in court.
Also remember you are only going by what the media tells you. Im sure there is alot more that was in the trial that the media didnt cover to make her look innocent. It sells papers that way.

The Australian legal system on the other hand is too soft but at least people get fair trials.

Try explaining that to the families victims that see the perpertators walk free.

Jae I agree with you 100%, but the reason this has gotten so much attention is she is a) a woman, 2) she is crying, 3) asutralians generally like to be the hero, thats why they are "outraged" at this shit. who gives a fuck.

[Matt]

This was not told in court, so for all they know she took it herself. Not to mention that according to her father, he was the one who originally packed the bag (and looks like a druggo lol).

her brother looks and speaks like a druggo.

Good, serves the drug smuggling bogan right. They have a different legal system to us, none of this "beyond reasonable doubt" shit. She got a fair trial. It's not her fault her defense team were useless, example:

i understand that they have a different legal system, but if she DIDN'T plant the drugs, and she was setup then it's rather unfortunate that she has to face a harsh system. I doubt she did get a fair trial, the evidence from the defence witnesses was not even admissed (sp?) by the judges.

Basically, it was an opinion verdict.....perhaps the judge wanted to keep his 500-0 record alive.

[J@3]

She told them the drugs were hers according to the people at customs.

SCHAPELLE CORBY: People were getting their luggage checked and I thought 'okay, maybe that's a normal thing because of all the terrorists and whatever' and so the guy that was checking the bags said to my younger brother, who is 17, he said, "Is that your boogie board?" "Yeah, I'm so excited. I'm having a holiday. I haven't been here for four years." And I've gone, "No, it's mine" and I've picked it up and put it on the counter. And, "Yeah, it's mine." And I've opened it up and I've just seen ... I don't know what it was, but I saw it's not — I didn't put it there. And as I closed it...

Well, there goes her "my brother carried the bag" argument.

How is it an opinion verdict though? I don't get that at all. There's too much evidence. Even her own family contradict what she comes out with. She told the court she'd never done drugs, her dad said she'd probably smoked weed at school (he was on ABC).

[Matt]

Does that mean there was a possibility that the guns found in Ivan Milats house werent his?! OMG! Set that man free!

dont know who that is so i cant comment.

Try explaining that to the families victims that see the perpertators walk free.

it is fair, defendants get a fair chance to prove their innocence, i didn't say that the verdicts were fair.

How is it an opinion verdict though? I don't get that at all. There's too much evidence. Even her own family contradict what she comes out with. She told the court she'd never done drugs, her dad said she'd probably smoked weed at school (he was on ABC).

For their legal system possession obviously was enough but it doesnt prove anything. What really happened is up to interpretation. She could have packed it or been set up.

[Matthew]

Thats right Jae, people in this country say its objective, but really it isnt. If this was a leb or an asian, even if they were born here, do you think it would recieve the attention its gotten?

The quote of the whole drama was "as god as my witness". You'd have to hope the slut is on drugs. Who in their right mind would say somthing that stupid.

Ivan Milat was a seriel killer in nsw, he took hitchhikers into the forest and murdered them. Most of the evidence against him was taken in a search of his home.

it is fair, defendants get a fair chance to prove their innocence, i didn't say that the verdicts were fair.

She had her chance. All she did was say "it's not mine!". Thats all the "evidence" she had.

How can you say she didnt have a fair chance?

For their legal system possession obviously was enough but it doesnt prove anything. What really happened is up to interpretation. She could have packed it or been set up.

You could say that anything could be open for intrepretation. Thats when common sense comes into it.

[Matt]

Thats right Jae, people in this country say its objective, but really it isnt. If this was a leb or an asian, even if they were born here, do you think it would recieve the attention its gotten?

your probably right on that.

The quote of the whole drama was "as god as my witness". You'd have to hope the slut is on drugs. Who in their right mind would say somthing that stupid

why is that stupid? it's like swearing on the Bible or the Quran

[J@3]

Well considering she didn't "discover God" until she pretty much knew she was going down, I guess he wasn't looking when she stuffed her bag full of weed.

[Matthew]

Its a quote from gone with the wind, "as god as my witness, i will never go hungry again". Thats why its stupid.

Oh wait, she now is a believer of religon! It has meaning

[Matt]

Its a quote from gone with the wind, "as god as my witness, i will never go hungry again". Thats why its stupid.

Gone With The Wind, haha, someones cultured

[Boyk]

Its bullshit, complete and utter bullshit!

man im so pissed!

[Matthew]

Why exactly are you pissed? It's not like there was a mountain of evidence saying she didnt do it. All there was was a testimony of hers (with tears included).

[Jackal]

I was going to ask him if it was his family member orso, he got all serious about it, but then again, I've been bringing up people's family members way too often so I refrained. See, I've got some control over my other personality too.

[BiGrEd819]

i dont get it.... first he says its suicide to smuggle weed to australia nd then he says u could grow marijuana....is australia a weired country or what?

or did i juss missread it

[Matthew]

Judging from your literacy level, you probably "missread" lots of things.

[The X]

hands up if you're going to Bali anytime in the future

[Andrew]

One could say there wasn't much evidence in Schapelle Corby's defense, but the trial in my opinion wasn't completely fair as there wasn't convincing evidence against her, either. They didn't even fingerprint the bag of marijuana, there's no CCTV evidence, she was basically found guilty because she admitted to owning the bodyboard. To me, that doesn't seem like a fair system of justice and while other courts around the world are hardly faultless (OJ Simpson - enough said), they at least take evidence into account.

[Matthew]

I do see what your saying, about all she did was admit it was her board, but they did take evidence into account. The only thing is her "evidence" was so insignificant it didnt hold much weight at all.

If she was found guilty just by saying "its not mine", it sets the precident thatother drug smugglers can use that defense. It just seemed like a massive soap opera. Trust me, if she didnt have a pretty face, and wasnt white, and didnt turn on the water works, pretend to faint, and help turn it into a circus, no one would care.

This is the 2nd comming of lindy chamberlin...

[The X]

trial was fair by Indonesia laws and precedence....over there, there is no onus to prove beyond reasonable doubt that she is guilty....in Indonesia, it's guilty until proven innocent, much like the rest of the South-east Asian countries....

if you don't like it, then don't go on a holiday there....don't give money to tsunami appeals....