Did anyone else see her press conference today? ( TVNZ covers it well )

I think she came over really well and, one bit not covered in the link above, said that her story isn't for sale. If she doesn't (and perhaps she can't anyway) then good on her. She certainly swayed my opinion today.

Thought the media overplayed the whole burka (burkha?) aspect of it. If that's what she had to do to get out of that situation then do it - and she's apologized if it did offened anyone ... "which was infested with cockroaches and had no ventilation and no sunlight" - can't blame her.

I was horrified to see the Press Conference crossed to as 'Breaking News' by two (commercial) TV stations. At least Channel 9 kept the cricket going in an 'in-screen'...

I just cannot believe how much coverage these people get for being stupid enough to get caught with drugs in places where there are strict drug laws - in Leslie's case, either the pills were hers, or she was dumb enough to be hanging out with 'friends' who would do something like slip them into her bag. Did she have a rough time in jail? Undoubtedly: it was jail!

I'm also disgusted at how much time, energy and public money is being spent on trying to spare Nguyen Tuong Van the death penalty. It seems to me that the only person who is being realistic about his case is the man himself - he knew what he was doing, he knew the risks, he got caught, he's prepared to take his punishment. Of course his family and friends are upset, and no I don't believe in the death penalty. But 'we' are asking another country to bend, break or change their laws. Just think about that for a second - what would the public or governmental reaction be if Singapore was trying to get us to do the same thing? Arguing that Nguyen is an Australian and we don't have the death penalty doesn't cut it; we also don't have any laws we could be holding David Hicks under, but we're not being encouraged to send platitude-filled drawings of our hands to Guantanamo Bay, are we?

Copago yes, Michelle Leslie came across as a perfectly pleasant, albeit confused young girl, who had been stuck in an unpleasant situation which she has fortunately come through relatively unscathed. I really felt for her father, a self-confessed 'softie' who has lost his home, savings and probably several years from his life over this, and any daughter would be lucky to have him. But I have to say that the best way to combat media-fuelled (negative) public attention is not to hand them more fuel on the platter that today's press conference turned out to be!

I see it in very simplistic terms, that boils down to two very basic questions.

1) Did they smuggle drugs?

2) Did they know the penalties in SE Asia? (If they didn't, they must have been living somewhere VERY remote.)

In my opinion, both the above mentioned people (plus the Bali Nine) are as guilty as sin, and deserve what they get. Chapelle Corby's case is a bit different, as there is a rather large element of doubt there.

Apologies for seeming harsh, but I believe that stupidity is NOT a legal defence.