The last chance for mercy fades from view for two Australian drug smugglers on death row.
An Indonesian court has denied Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran the chance to have another judicial review of their death sentences, meaning there is now nothing stopping their executions.
In a final attempt to save themselves from the firing squad, lawyers for the two men lodged applications with the Denpasar district court for a second judicial review.
They had recently been denied presidential pardons which was considered the last avenue of appeal, but attempted to have the courts reopen the case.
At a press conference in Bali, court spokesman Hasoloan Sianturi announced that the application had been denied.
Chan and Sukumaran were sentenced to death in 2006 for their organising role in the Bali Nine heroin smuggling group.
Read more: Why aren’t Australians fighting for the lives of Chan and Sukumaran?
The Indonesian government this week confirmed the men were to be put to death in the next round of executions.
A spokesman for attorney-general Muhammad Prasetyo said their executions could happen within two weeks.
The Australian Government and Prime Minister Tony Abbott have pleaded with Indonesian officials to spare the lives of the men.
Indonesia’s ambassador to Australia said he had met with Australia’s “highest official” and explained there was nothing Australia could do to save Chan and Sukumaran from the firing squad.
This post originally appeared on the ABC website and has been republished with permission.
Top Comments
A lot of people are purporting to speak on behalf of families who have lost a loved one due to drugs and advocating for these men to be killed. I am part of one of those families and I stand for mercy. I invite you to read my story.
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