Advertisement

Judge suspends Cassie Sainsbury’s plea deal hearing

UPDATED: A Colombian judge has suspended a hearing on whether to allow Adelaide woman Cassie Sainsbury to serve a six-year jail term under a plea deal with prosecutors to consider whether it is legal.

Jul 27, 2017, updated Jul 27, 2017
Cassie Sainsbury arrives for her court hearing in Bogota, Colombia, today. Photo: AP/Fernando Vergara

Cassie Sainsbury arrives for her court hearing in Bogota, Colombia, today. Photo: AP/Fernando Vergara

The shock decision came after Sainsbury told the court she had agreed to smuggle drugs only because her family and fiance had been threatened.

Those comments may endanger the deal the 22-year-old had struck with prosecutors to serve just six years instead of at least 20 in return for information on the ring.

Sainsbury told the court in Bogota on Thursday morning that she “didn’t want to take any package anywhere” but did so under coercion.

“I was told that my family and partner would be killed,” she said when asked what would happen if she didn’t agree.

When questioned by Judge Leon why she had made the plea bargain if she had been threatened, she said she had no choice.

“I’ve accepted the charges because the one thing I cannot take away from the evidence is that the drug was in my suitcase and I was carrying that,” she said.

“I have to take responsibility for that.”

Judge Leon said Sainsbury’s explanation raised questions about whether the deal should be confirmed and stopped today’s hearing.

“That is why it is wise to suspend this hearing to study and to resolve if it is going to be legal or not what is being proposed.”

It will resume on August 9 after Judge Leon considers the deal taking into account Sainsbury’s explanation.

Sainsbury was caught at Bogota’s international airport in April, trying to smuggle 5.8 kilograms of cocaine inside 18 separate packages of headphones. She has been held in a Bogota prison since her arrest.

Her mother Lisa Evans and fiance Scott Broadbridge were in Bogota to support her during the sentencing hearing on Thursday morning Australian time.

Sainsbury’s sister yesterday told Channel 7 in Adelaide the plea deal was the best outcome they could hope for.

But Kahla Sainsbury said her sister’s life would never be the same, even after just a few years in prison.

“I don’t think there’s much she can do when she comes back home. It’s going to be hard for her to get a job. It’s going to be hard for her to do anything,” she said.

“Because she’s going to be labelled as ‘Cocaine Cassie’.”

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the case served as another warning to Australians travelling overseas.

– AAP

Local News Matters
Advertisement
Copyright © 2024 InDaily.
All rights reserved.