A BRISBANE priest whose former par-ishioner Scott Rush is on death row in a Bali prison for heroin smuggling has detected a groundswell of popular support since fellow drug courier Renae Lawrence spoke out on Rush’s behalf.
Fr Tim Harris, of Corinda-Graceville parish, said her support had come at a crucial time as Scott’s death sentence was expected to come up for reconsideration in a district court hearing in Denpasar, Bali, in April.
One of the members of Scott Rush’s Aust-ralian legal team, Brisbane barrister Bob Myers agreed, saying that “it was to Renae Lawrence’s credit that she had come forward in support of Scott”.
Scott’s father Lee Rush said support for Scott seemed to be growing, but added that “as ever Scott’s fate was in the hands of the Indonesian legal system”.
Mr Rush, who visited his son for Christmas with wife Christine and two sons, said Scott seemed to be in good spirits and that a recent visit by Bishop Silvester Tung Kiem San of Denpasar was also encouraging.
Fr Harris said results of a recent online survey showed about 38,000 people believed that the 24-year-old Brisbane man should not receive the death penalty for his involvement in heroin smuggling which led to his apprehension at Bali’s Denpasar Airport in 2005.
“This was more than twice the number that said that Scott should face the death penalty,” Fr Harris said.
“In the past, responses to such questions had been about fifty-fifty or worse.
“It seems likely the change has been brought about by Renae’s recent admission that she had made a number of drug runs into Bali but that this was Scott’s first attempt.
“Yet she received 20 years jail.
“Initially so did Scott but his sentence was changed to the death penalty when he appealed.
“When you look at these facts, Scott’s death sentence would seem to be particularly out of proportion.”
Both Scott Rush and Renae Lawrence were part of a group which became known as the Bali Nine.
The group from Australia were arrested at Bali’s airport in April 2005.
Scott Rush, making his first overseas trip, was found with 1.3kg of heroin strapped to his body.
He was initially sentenced to 20 years jail as a drug courier, as was Michael Czugaj, another former member of the Corinda-Graceville parish.
Scott appealed the sentence but instead received the death sentence. He is now on death row in Bali’s Kerobakan prison.
Scott’s Indonesian legal team has already lost two appeals seeking to reverse the death sentence.
A third and final appeal is permitted. If this was to fail, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd could appeal to the Indonesian Government for clemency as a last resort.
Mr Myers said it seemed likely April would be the date that Scott’s legal team in Indonesia would launch the third and final appeal.
“This date depends on the Indonesian lawyers who are preparing a motion for reconsideration of Scott’s death sentence, and on the country’s legal system,” he said.
Mr Myers said the process would start with a hearing in the District Court at Denpasar.
“This court will consider all evidence and pass on a recommendation to the Supreme Court as to whether Scott’s death sentence should be commuted to life imprisonment,” he said.
“It is hoped the appeal will be successful and that Scott’s fate does not rest on an appeal for clemency from the Australian Prime Minister to Indonesian president.”
Media reports earlier this month stated that Renae Lawrence would give testimony on Scott’s behalf at the coming court hearing.
However, she was later reported as indicating she would not be going to court to give fresh evidence.
Lawrence said she had agreed only to a request by head of Scott’s Australian legal team, Colin McDonald, that she provide a statement that Rush was just a courier.
Lee Rush told The Catholic Leader that his son had seemed to be in “good spirits” when he visited.
“Together with our two sons, we visited Scott over Christmas,” he said.
“Christine and I visited him every day of our 30-day visa.
“He was delighted to see us and in high spirits to see his brothers whom he hadn’t seen since their visit for his 21st birthday in 2006.”
Lee Rush said that support for Scott did seem to be growing but that he and Christine were “physically and emotionally drained” by the latest trip to Bali and by the years of worry since their son had been arrested.
“However, we’ve got to stay optimistic that Scott will be saved,” he said.
“Otherwise we probably wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning.
“Our son’s fate as from the beginning remains in the hands of the Indonesian legal system”.
