by FPSS Advocate Kay Danes
 FPSS and its members have been supporting Scott Rush's appeal for mercy for five years.
'There is no excusing his behaviour at the time but certainly he knows now and fully appreciates the consequences of the choices he made as a teenager' says Kay Danes, advocate for the Foreign Prisoner Support Service (FPSS).
In fact, at the age of only 18, it was Scott Rush's first and only overseas trip when 1.3 kilograms of heroin was found strapped to his body at Denpasar airport in April 2005. Rush had no knowledge of the extent of the drug syndicate that recruited him.
'Sometimes people make mistakes. Scott is one of those kids who fell through the cracks' says Danes.
It would appear that Indonesian Authorities are practised in catching drug mules while Australian Authorities are yet to catch the dealers who ensnare vulnerable Australian teenagers to begin with, before they head overseas. Thus far, the organisers and financiers of the heroin to be smuggled by the Bali nine have never been arrested.
Renae Lawrence has issued a new statement to Rush's lawyers and is prepared to testify if asked to do so by a panel of Supreme Court judges set to consider Rush's appeal, which could begin in early April 2010. (Source: The Age Archived here )
Kay Danes has also offered a statement on behalf of Foreign Prisoner Support Service to support an appeal for leniency. This is based on FPSS's direct dealings with Scott Rush over the last five years.
'In all our dealings, he has shown genuine remorse. I believe he has the potential to turn his life around if given a second chance.' says Kay Danes. 'This was the only time Scott Rush had attempted this sort of thing. He is the only Australian 'drug mule' to be on death row in Bali. All of the other six Australian drug mules have had their sentences reduced on appeal.'
Scott Rush will face a final appeal for his life. There is no date set at this stage that we know of however, it is suggested that it may be around April 2010.
Scott Rush Campaign page at FPSS: click here
About Kay Danes
International Humanitarian & Advocate
Foreign Prisoner Support Service
Author of:
Families Behind Bars; Stories of Injustice, Endurance and Hope
Standing Ground; An Imprisoned Couple's Struggle for Justice Against A Communist Regime
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