I Support Her 100%

Many people have asked why I support Schapelle. I support Schapelle for two reasons. First, because I whole heartedly believe in her innocence. I think that there are certain cases that grab you in and make you listen. For me Schapelles case has done just that. And before any of you think that its because the way it was over-killed by the media, I can assure you I heard nothing of this case until April of 2005. I was living in Japan when the whole ordeal started and the Japanese news did not mention Schapelle once. I learned about Schapelle in Bali from a journalist who spoke very little of his personal opinion about the case. Upon returning to Japan, I was greatful to have the internet as a source to finding out more about Schapelle's case. I found the official website of the Corby Family, Forgein Prisoners Support Service and the Spirit of Schapelle all to be extremely informative websites. I also dabbled into websites which were Anti-Schapelle to gain a perspective from the other side of the coin. I wanted to look at reasons why people would believe she was guilty. For me the internet was an invaluable tool to learning more about Schapelles case and I assure you the way the case was played out in the media is not the reason I am a supporter. Instead, I am greatful to have the wealth of information available to me even so late into the case.

The second reason I support Schapelle and perhaps the most convincing reason is because she is a human being who has had her legal rights trampelled on. From the moment her nightmare began, Schapelle claimed her innocence. She did all she could to try to prove this. However, her pleas for justice fell upon deaf ears. She insisted the customs officers stop handling the marijuana with bare hands and fingerprint the bag, knowing that if her fingerprints were found on the bag, she would be undisputedly guilty. She also insisted her bags be weighed to confirm there would be a discrepancy between the original weight in Australia and the current weight in Bali. She asked for this again knowing that if her bags weighed the same this would prove the marijuana was in her bag from the moment she checked her bags in Australia. Why would she insist on this if she was guilty? Schapelle also requested that the marijuana be tested to determine its orgin. None of her requests were met. Instead the evidence was recently burned to signify the closure of the case.

The Australian Prime Minister John Howard has astonished me so far. From the beginning he insisted he was unable to interfere with the law in Indonesia. Which lets be honest, that makes sense. We cannot have one country walking into another and dictating who is guilty and who is not. Ok we get it. What Australia did promise was to ensure that Schapelles trial was fair. Well, I am no expert on the law of any country but I do know that when the Chief of Police in Bali admits that only 50% of the case was investigated and the he believes it should not have went to trial that is saying something. This is suggesting that Schapelle was not given a fair trial. Her evidence was contaminated and there were many questions left unanswered as to how the marijuana came to be put in her bag.

This case reeks of corruption and injustice. So, Mr. Howard your promise to ensure Schapelles trial was fair has fallen through. The world is watching you and we are waiting for you to do something!