Legal challenge in case of Redcar woman on death row

A legal challenge will be heard in the British courts in the case of a woman on death row in the Far East.

Lindsay Sandiford was sentenced to death by firing squad by a court in the Indonesian province of Bali. The 56 year old, who's originally from Redcar, was convicted of smuggling more than a million and a half pounds worth of cocaine.

She has the opportunity to appeal against her death sentence but the legal campaigning charity Reprieve says her family has run out of money and cannot afford the cost of lawyer.

The charity is challenging the British Government's policy of not paying for, or providing legal representation for Britons facing the death penalty abroad.

That case is due to be heard at the High Court on Thursday 31st January.

A lawyer is prepared to work on Lindsay Sandiford's case voluntarily though he requires the cost of travel to be met, which amounts to around £2,500. Reprieve says the Foreign Office should step in.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office gave this response:

The Foreign Office added that it is disappointing it is having to divert resources to contesting the legal challenge when it should be focusing on assisting Lindsay Sandiford.