#Government
Target:
Indonesian Government
Region:
Australia

UPDATE: August 3, 2005.

SCHAPELLE Corby has been dealt another shattering blow, with three Balinese judges shutting down her reopened drugs trial and refusing to grant her Indonesian lawyers more time to find new witnesses.

Corby's defence team must now lodge a new appeal and ask for a time extension from the Bali High Court, to keep alive her hopes of freedom.

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May 27, 2005: Schapelle Corby has received a 20-year jail term after being found guilty of importing marijuana - sparking fury among her family in court.

Judges also fined Corby 100 million rupiah ($A13,875).

Her lawyers immediately said they would appeal and prosecutors are set to follow suit, having sought a life sentence.

Corby had earlier begun weeping and rocking back-and-forth on her chair after learning that the judges have found the charges against her as proven - one step below guilt under Indonesian law - before Chief Judge Linton Sirait announced the verdict.

The 27-year-old looked stunned as the verdict was translated for her, but turned around to urge her family to stop their shouting.

She then hugged lawyer Lily Lupis while members of the gallery voiced their outrage.

"Twenty years?," said Corby, who was standing to hear the verdict from chief judge Linton Sirait.

She immediately turned to distressed mother Roseleigh Rose and appeared to shout: "Mum it's OK".

As the courtroom descended into chaos, Corby then hugged her interpreter and pushed through police to get to her mother and father Michael Corby.

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AdvertisementShe kissed other members of her family and was then led away by police through a crush of media to a waiting vehicle, which rushed her back to Kerobokan prison.

Corby backer, Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir, said she would appeal.

"This is a massive injustice," he told reporters, crying.

"I'm speechless, I'm speechless I really am, I really don't know what more we could have done.

"We just have to keep fighting - that's all we can do."

Ms Lubis said the appeal process had already begun, but added of her client: "She will not survive."

Corby, 27, faced the death penalty if convicted of importing a narcotic, a maximum of life imprisonment for transiting a drug, and a maximum of 10 years' jail for possession.

Wearing a black silk blouse and pink pants, she had been half-carried into the court by about 10 Indonesian police officers.

The panel of three judges finalised its decision days ago, with one local paper speculating that a 15-year jail term would be announced for the 27-year-old.

Jano Gibson writes: On appeal, the case will go before the High Court, which has 150 days to make a decision.

Both teams can appeal its decision taking the case to the Supreme Court, which will have 170 days to determine whether Ms Corby is innocent or guilty.

Help free Schapelle Corby. Sign this petition to help save an innocent victim of crime. Get Schapelle out of jail.

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The Free Schapelle Corby petition to Indonesian Government was written by Greenwood SHS and is in the category Government at GoPetition.