Interpreter no-show halts Bali Nine trial

BALI Nine defendant Martin Stephens took the witness stand today ready to testify against fellow accused and friend Renae Lawrence, but did not get a chance to tell his story.

The hearing was adjourned before Mr Stephens, 29, of Wollongong, could open his mouth because prosecutors failed to arrange an interpreter for him.

Two other defendants, Brisbane friends Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj, both 19, had also been called to testify as prosecution witnesses, but did not show up.

Mr Rush did not want to come and Mr Czugaj was sick, prosecutor Ni Putu Indriati told Denpasar District Court.

Mr Stephens arrived in the same police van as Ms Lawrence, but they were handcuffed separately.

He cut a lonely figure in the holding cell as he waited to be called to testify for the prosecution.

Afterwards, Ms Lawrence said she was disappointed Mr Stephens had not been able to testify today.

"I actually wanted it to be finished and over and done with," she said as the pair were bundled back into the police van to return to Kerobokan prison.

Adjourning the hearing to next Friday, chief judge I Putu Widnya said he could not allow Mr Stephens to testify without an interpreter.

"To ensure your testimony is more transparent, we cannot hear it today," Judge Widnya told Mr Stephens, who looked dismayed and frustrated during 10 minutes of legal argument over the issue.

Judge Widnya had asked the defence to allow Ms Lawrence's interpreter to sit with Mr Stephens for the duration of his testimony, as she could understand what he said in English.

The defence objected, saying Ms Lawrence would then not be able to follow what her lawyers, prosecutors and judges were saying.

Defence counsel Yan Apul later said although they were being called as prosecution witnesses, the accused mules testimony could in fact help prove the defence case.

"Maybe we can take from these witnesses that someone else owns the drugs," he said.

Mr Rush's lawyer, Robert Khuana, denied his client was unwilling to testify.

"He's willing, but it's the prosecutor's fault that he did not show up because she did not inform me," Mr Khuana said.

Although prosecutors had no legal obligation to inform defence counsel when calling a client to testify, Mr Rush was reluctant to comply without his lawyer's knowledge and consent, Mr Khuana said.

Prosecutor Ni Putu Indriati said that under the law, Mr Rush had three chances to willingly turn up before prosecutors could force him.

Earlier in the hearing, a receptionist from the Hotel Adhi Dharma where Ms Lawrence and Mr Stephens shared a room for three nights before their arrest on April 17 told the court that alleged gang co-ordinator Andrew Chan had checked them in and paid for their room.

The four were allegedly caught at Bali airport with 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies.

Mr Chan was also arrested at the airport with no drugs on him, while another four men were arrested at a Kuta hotel.


Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thur, 24 November 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Marian Hinchliffe
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/