CONVICTED Bali Nine drug smuggler Scott Rush is “distraught and numb” as he tries to come to terms with the upgrading of his life sentence to the death penalty, his father said.
Scott’s parents, Lee and Christine Rush, returned to Brisbane from Bali on September 18.
It had been their first visit to see their son since hearing on September 5 that the Indonesian Supreme Court had decided to impose the death penalty.
The couple have been living a nightmare since April 17 last year.
That’s the day Scott, and Michael Czugaj, both from Corinda Graceville Parish in Brisbane, were among nine Australians arrested trying to smuggle 8kg of heroin out of Bali.
Scott is among six of the nine convicted traffickers who will now face a firing squad.
Mr Rush said Scott did not take the news of the death penalty well.
“Mentally he is not very stable, he is very depressed,” Mr Rush said.
On their most recent trip, Mr and Mrs Rush visited Scott every day they were allowed to by the prison.
Mr Rush said they hoped to hear in the next two weeks about Scott’s chances of an appeal.
He thanked Corinda Graceville parish priest Fr Tim Harris and the parish community for all their efforts.
Mr Rush said Scott was receiving and reading The Catholic Leader after the parish organised for copies to be sent to him each week.
Fr Harris said he was regularly phoning the Rush family and the family of Michael Czugaj, sometimes up to three times a day.
The Rush family has asked for prayers for their son and for all the Bali Nine.
