Renae Lawrence

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Accused Bali Nine member Renae Lawrence in video footage taken directly after her arrest and broadcast by Network Ten.
Accused Bali Nine member Renae Lawrence in video footage taken directly after her arrest and broadcast by Network Ten.

Renae Lawrence (b. 1977) is a former panel beater and caterer from Newcastle, New South Wales. She is the only female among the nine arrested as part of the Bali Nine group of nine Australians found guilty of attempting to import a total of 8.3 kg of heroin from Indonesia to Australia. She has accused Andrew Chan of threatening her life if she did not continue with the plan to import drugs.

Prosecutors had earlier recommended Lawrence receive a 20 year prison sentence if convicted, the lightest sentence of all defendants, due to her early co-operation with police. On February 13, 2006, judges imposed a higher sentence than sought by prosecutors, with Lawrence sentenced to life imprisonment [1]. Lawrence formally lodged her appeal on February 16, 2006 [2]. Her original life sentence was reduced to 20 years upon her successful appeal. She is currently serving her sentence in Kerobokan Prison along with fellow inmate Schapelle Corby.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Lawrence lived with a female partner 10 years her senior for most of her teen and early adulthood years. After the relationship ended she moved back in with her mother and step-father. Her father, Bob Lawrence, described his daughter upon her arrest as being "gullible and naive" [3].

Lawrence gained employment with a local smash repair company. Later, whilst employed at the Eurest Catering Company, Lawrence met fellow defendants, Martin Stephens, Matthew Norman, and Andrew Chan.

[edit] Criminal charges pending in Australia

Lawrence and Norman were arrested on March 26, 2005 whilst travelling along the Pacific Highway in a stolen Ford Laser vehicle. Police were required to use road spikes to intercept the stolen vehicle. Both were due to appear in the Gosford Magistrates Court to face car theft and traffic related charges On April 26, 2005, however failed to appear due to their imprisonment in Indonesia a week earlier on April 17, 2005. [4]

[edit] Arrest in Indonesia

Lawrence admitted to two prior visits to Bali on October 16, 2004 and November 5, 2004, where she and Andrew Chan made an earlier successful run with heroin from Bali to Australia during their October visit. The second delivery, scheduled for December 2004 was aborted when heroin suppliers failed to deliver [5].

Lawrence was discovered with heroin weighing 2.689 kg concealed on her body at Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar on April 17, 2005. Lawrence is reported to have attempted suicide twice since her imprisonment and also suffered a broken arm due to an incident involving self harm after learning fellow defendant and ringleader, Andrew Chan was to be moved to the same prison [6].

[edit] Criticisms of Australian Federal Police tipoff

Lawrence's father, Bob Lawrence, said in October, 2005 he wanted to meet AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty face to face after learning of comments made by Lee Rush relating to a call made before their departure for Indonesia informing police of the groups possible links to illegal drug trade and a request to intervene.

"As far as I'm concerned, and excuse the expression, he is an arsehole. These kids were forced into this … they should have been either arrested at the airport here or followed to get the big guys. I don't know how they can sleep at night … even if they (the Bali nine) were guilty of doing it willingly, it still doesn't deserve the death penalty." [7]

[edit] Criminal trial

Lawrence has admitted to her role in attempting to smuggle the drugs to Australia, saying before the Denpasar District Court,

"I would like to say to you and your country that I am sincerely sorry for what I have done. I need you to understand why I did it and ask for the mercy of this court. I'm guilty of carrying this stuff to Australia, but I'm not guilty of owning, selling or anything else because Andrew Chan owns it, not me." [8].

Fellow accused Michael Czugaj and Scott Rush, school friends from Brisbane, have testified they had never met Lawrence or Martin Stephens until they were all arrested together at Ngurah Rai Airport.

Indonesian judges found no evidence of Lawrence claims her life was threatened. Judge I Gusti Ngurah Astawa said during sentencing,

"The council of judges found no proof of the use of force in this crime, therefore the defendant has to be sentenced as fairly as possible [9].

[edit] See also

[edit] References


Bali Nine
Andrew Chan | Si Yi Chen | Michael Czugaj | Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen | Matthew Norman
Renae Lawrence | Scott Rush | Martin Stephens | Myuran Sukumaran
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