Australian Attorney General's Office approve 11th hour funding for expert legal witness to testify in a Bali Nine appeal against the death sentence
Professor James Ogloff |
International Human Rights Advocate of the Foreign Prisoner Support Service, Kay Danes, has successfully secured an expert witness at the last minute to testify in Tuesday's court appeal, on behalf of Australians Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, Matthew Norman and Si Yi Chen.
Ms. Danes, acting as a prisoner advocate for the Australians detained on death row, recieved a late night telephone call on Thursday 24 May, from Bali-based Erwin Siregar, the criminal defence lawyer for the three Australians.. Mr. Siregar requested Ms. Danes to secure a legal expert where others, including himself, have failed to do so.
Immediately, Ms. Danes placed several telephone calls from her Brisbane residence to the Attorney General's office.
'The Attorney General's staff were fantastic given the time restraints that we were facing. We'd only just identified an expert witness for the trial, amazingly, he was willing to clear his schedule and put everything on hold for this.'
Professor James Ogloff is the Foundation Professor of Clinical Foreignsic Psychology at Monash University and Director of the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science. He has also held appointments as Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of British Columbia and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the University of Manitoba.
Ms. Danes says 'As an expert in forensic psychology, Professor Ogloff can articulate offender behaviour and if, when the offender shows remorse, they are able to respond to rehabilitation programs. His testimony as an expert in death penalty issues and human rights law is vital to the defence of these three Australians on death row and will include a number of key aspects.
Professor Ogloff will be able to provide substantive argument supporting the Defence's assertion that the death penalty is not a deterrent to crime; and in these particular cases, was not. He will be able to provide a humanitarian appeal on the basis that the death penalty contradicts the prisoner's right to life. He has extensive knowledge in this area and can draw from actual studies conducted in the United States and elsewhere.
Professor Ogloff will also be called upon to give responses relating to international human rights law; in particular, to the extra ordinary appeals for these Australians on death row.
'The Indonesian judges have been very supportive and I believe that Professor Ogloff's testimony will be well recieved. In this case, there is reasonable cause to support our claims that these three boys in particular have shown remorse, are able to respond to rehabilitation, and to make amends for their crimes.' says Kay Danes.
Professor Ogloff is meeting the boys in Kerobokan prison and will provide testimony on their behalf at the court hearing on Tuesday 28 May 2007, in Denpassar, Bali.
'The young Australians have committed crimes and should be punished, but each one has shown remorse and should have an opportunity to rehabilitative care. The death penalty renders impossible the idea of correction and rehabilitation; to give a person a second chance, to change, to make amends, to contribute to society in a more positive way. We appeal that their sentences be commuted to life with parole conditions' says Kay Danes.
Foreign Prisoner Support Services have launched a nationwide campaign against the death penalty. The abolition of the death penalty contributes to enhancement of human dignity and progressive development of human rights.
foreignprisoners.com
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