Brisbane priest Father Tim Harris said there is growing support for former parishioner, Scott Rush, who is on death row in Bali, since a statement by fellow “Bali Nine” Renae Lawrence that he was just a first time courier.
Fr Harris, Corinda-Graceville parish priest, told The Catholic Leader that 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.
“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 50-50 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.
She received 20 years jail, the priest said, but Rush got the death penalty after an appeal.
“When you look at these facts, Scott’s death sentence would seem to be particularly out of proportion.”
Rush’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.
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