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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/27/cassie-sainsbury-to-serve-six-years-in-colombian-jail-after-judge-accepts-plea-deal
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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Cassie Sainsbury: Colombian judge defers decision on plea bargain | Cassie Sainsbury: Colombian judge defers decision on plea bargain |
| (25 days later) | |
| Adelaide woman Cassie Sainsbury’s plea bargain with her prosecutors has been suspended by a Colombian judge and the hearing set for another date. | Adelaide woman Cassie Sainsbury’s plea bargain with her prosecutors has been suspended by a Colombian judge and the hearing set for another date. |
| Sainsbury had told the Colombian court she feared her family would be killed if she refused to smuggle cocaine for a drug ring. | Sainsbury had told the Colombian court she feared her family would be killed if she refused to smuggle cocaine for a drug ring. |
| But the judge said those comments raised questions about the legality of the deal the 22-year-old had struck with prosecutors to serve just six years instead of at least 20 in return for information on the ring. | But the judge said those comments raised questions about the legality of the deal the 22-year-old had struck with prosecutors to serve just six years instead of at least 20 in return for information on the ring. |
| There was a lot of “complexity in the development of this plea bargain” and he wanted more time to consider it. | There was a lot of “complexity in the development of this plea bargain” and he wanted more time to consider it. |
| Sainsbury told a court in Bogota on Thursday morning that she “didn’t want to take any package anywhere” but did so under coercion. | Sainsbury told a court in Bogota on Thursday morning that she “didn’t want to take any package anywhere” but did so under coercion. |
| “I was told that my family and partner would be killed,” she said when asked what would happen if she didn’t agree. | “I was told that my family and partner would be killed,” she said when asked what would happen if she didn’t agree. |
| However, reporters in the courtroom said her comments that she did not willingly take part in the smuggling attempt have upset prosecutors who may change the deal. | However, reporters in the courtroom said her comments that she did not willingly take part in the smuggling attempt have upset prosecutors who may change the deal. |
| Sainsbury was caught at Bogota’s international airport in April, trying to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine inside 18 separate packages of headphones. | Sainsbury was caught at Bogota’s international airport in April, trying to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine inside 18 separate packages of headphones. |
| Her mother, Lisa Evans, and fiance, Scott Broadbridge, were in the Colombian capital for the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, local time. | Her mother, Lisa Evans, and fiance, Scott Broadbridge, were in the Colombian capital for the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, local time. |
| Sainsbury’s sister had earlier told Channel Seven in Adelaide the plea deal was the best outcome they could have hoped for. | Sainsbury’s sister had earlier told Channel Seven in Adelaide the plea deal was the best outcome they could have hoped for. |
| But Kahla Sainsbury said her sister’s life would never be the same, even after just a few years in prison. | But Kahla Sainsbury said her sister’s life would never be the same, even after just a few years in prison. |
| “I don’t think there’s be much she can do when she comes back home,” she said. “It’s going to be hard for her to get a job. It’s going to be hard for her to do anything ... Because she’s going to be labelled as ‘Cocaine Cassie’.” | “I don’t think there’s be much she can do when she comes back home,” she said. “It’s going to be hard for her to get a job. It’s going to be hard for her to do anything ... Because she’s going to be labelled as ‘Cocaine Cassie’.” |
| The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said the case served as another warning to Australians travelling overseas. | The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said the case served as another warning to Australians travelling overseas. |
| “People need to abide by the laws of that country. If not, they will face serious consequences,” he told Seven on Thursday. | “People need to abide by the laws of that country. If not, they will face serious consequences,” he told Seven on Thursday. |
| The government provided consular assistance to Sainsbury but did not fund her legal case, Dutton said. | The government provided consular assistance to Sainsbury but did not fund her legal case, Dutton said. |
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| Australian media | Australian media |
| Drugs | Drugs |
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