This website is dedicated to Schapelle Corby and has
been created in consultation with her family
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H O M E B A K E
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The Foreign Prisoner Support Service invited the Schapelle Action Support Group and Australians Against Capital Punishment to participate in its stall at Homebake Sydney 2007.
Photo Gallery Homebake Sydney 2007
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Long time Schapelle supporter Murray Kidd, represented the Schapelle Action Support Group on the day and fielded a number of questions relating to Schapelle
'Many people were confused about Schapelle's situation. This was understandable given that they only had access to inaccurate media reports' says Murray.
'I was glad for the opportunity to hand out flyers that detailed the actual case facts … at the very least; I just hope people become more aware of her plight and understand that not everything in the media is a true account of what really happened!'
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'Kathryn Bonella, author of Schapelle's book - 'My Story' attended the event and it was great to finally catch up with her' says Murray.
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Other Schapelle Supporters also appreciated the opportunity to speak to Kathryn. They requested that their best wishes be forwarded to Schapelle and their prayers that she will come home soon!
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FPSS Advocate Kay Danes
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Murray's report: 12 Dec 2007
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Firstly I would like to thank FPSS for allowing the Schapelle Action Support Group to have a presence at Homebake Sydney 2007. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to interact with the general public, and for me in particular, as a long time Schapelle Supporter.
I believe that Schapelle Corby has been a victim of injustice and I wanted to share that message. I didn't realise that the day would be so controversial with Schapelle ending up on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald. The story did a lot of damage to her, despite the facts, if you could call them that were completely unsubstantiated. As a result, the feedback that I encountered throughout the day wasn't as encouraging as I would have liked. It did however enable me to learn a number of things.
MOST people gave reasons for why they thought Schapelle was guilty as opposed to why she could be innocent. Their reasoning was fairly mixed.
Some thought her young brother James 'did it'. He was only fifteen years old at the time he accompanied her to Bali. They determined Schapelle was guilty by association.
They said "Schapelle is guilty or must have known about the drugs because of her family who are all into drugs". This of course, stemmed from allegations reported in the media. Few people stopped to think that if their relative did drugs did that mean they did too? Some people said Schapelle was guilty because of her father, Michael Corby Snr, and that he had once been reported to have lived next door to a guy who had grown drugs.
This guilt-by-association factor was fairly easy for me to counter, once I managed to get a word in. I simply gave people the facts derived from Schapelle's book 'My Story' authored by Kathryn Bonella, and from our own research. I was able to isolate each event and family member into its own context as should be the case.
I shared the facts with people who stopped and told them in greater detail things that were misconstrued in the media or simply never reported. Some people were genuinely surprised when confronted with facts and others were definitely very interested to know more. Some just asked questions and did not form any conclusions. Some were set in their thinking. Some were drinking alcohol and yahooing and yelling… 'she's guilty' but when asked why they thought she was guilty, they just laughed and walked away.
Many simply ignored the table and the books that Kathryn Bonella was standing behind ready to sign but that didn't detract from the fact that she was there and able to answer their questions if need be.
Quite a few stopped to read our [slightly crinkled] poster size flyer. This poster was an invaluable tool on the day because it allowed people to read for themselves facts that were distorted or never made it into the media. It also allowed me to give them a smaller version of the flyer to take home with them.
Generally speaking the ones that stopped to read the poster-flyer were much more open minded.
We got rid of anywhere from 750 to perhaps 1000 flyers on the day. That includes leaving a hundred or so behind in about 10 stacks around the stall.
All wasn't just negative however, it was a great relief too, that there were quite a few people who still believe Schapelle is innocent, but I'm afraid we are in a minority. A lot of good people wanted to sign their names to something to support Schapelle but we couldn't petition because until the Judicial Review is decided then we don't know what action we are going to take. We directed these people instead to the website freeschapelle.net and the Schapelle Action Support Group.
One thing is for certain, we will continue to support Schapelle throughout her ordeal.
The Foreign Prisoner Support Service anti-death penalty DVD ran on the giant screens in between bands playing thanks to the outstanding support from Homebake Organiser Mr. Joe Segreto. Kay Danes went to a lot of trouble putting the DVD together to humanize prisoners all throughout the world who are currently on death row. FPSS created a poster that really did attract positive support. It titled 'Six Australians - One firing Squad'. The message was clear… 'These young men deserve to be punished - but not shot! - The death penalty does not deter crime.'
Kay also made sure our day at Homebake was pleasant and that we had access to everything we needed. FPSS event assistant - Aaron Mangraviti played a vital role in organizing power leads and various other equipment and stands to the FPSS stall. Kay says she would have been lost without Aaron's support.
I stood there mingling with the crowd on my breaks with my yellow SASG cap on and just marveled at how well the event was organized. The team at Bazaar Marketing were tremendous.
Being at Homebake was worth every cent and all the effort and all the madness of the day. It was an incredible experience to meet and greet the public and share with them Schapelle's plight. It was also fantastic to meet Stephen Kenny, lawyer, who attended the FPSS stall and kindly arranged accommodation with the wonderful people at the Christ Church of St. Lawrence in George Street. Fr Adrian Stephens and his beautiful wife Jeannie made us all feel very welcome during our Sydney stay.
Lee, Christine Rush and Janine Szylo also attended to raise awareness for the Australians Against Capital Punishment. I believe they did an excellent job, handing out flyers and stickers and getting the message out there that every life is precious. Quite a number of people signed their petitions to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Australian Government - calling to abolish the death penalty.
In summary of the event, regardless of whether people believed in Schapelle or not, most agreed that the 20 year sentence is incredibly harsh. Most agreed that human rights are worth defending. Most agreed that the death penalty solves nothing!
Murray Kidd
SASG Member
C/- PO Box 149
Mulgrave Victoria 3170
Australia
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SCHAPELLE CORBY
Sentenced to 20 Years in Bali for what?
The Facts are…
Schapelle checked in her bag at Brisbane airport and neither she, nor her travelling companions, had any contact with it until after it arrived in Bali.
Schapelle's travelling companion's luggage and Schapelle's own luggage were also never searched.
Neither the Indonesian nor the Australian governments wanted to, or did investigate this case. There was no investigation into where or how Schapelle intended to sell the marijuana, if indeed the Bali police truly believed her guilty.
The Bali Police refused to analyse the marijuana that convicted her. Hair from those who grew it would be in the resin. They didn't want anyone to investigate. Later, this marijuana was destroyed, obliterating any chance it could be used to acquit Schapelle.
No DNA Analysis! No Fingerprint Analysis! All Evidence Destroyed!
Marijuana inserted at Bali Airport
To suggest that Schapelle got a strong smelling, pillow-case-sized bag of drugs through both Brisbane and Sydney airports undetected, bypass check-in staff, x-ray machines, scanners, sniffer dogs, police, customs and baggage handlers is absolutely ludicrous! Remember the bag was slashed to release the smell of marijuana. You can't mistake it!
Schapelle Begged For a Full Police Investigation!
Guilty people don't beg for more investigation or sign documents requesting DNA analysis of the drugs that would contain their hair fibres. Guilty people don't beg for the preservation of fingerprints. They don't stand on principle and insist on their innocence when a guilty plea offers so many advantages…Schapelle did!
A Systemic Miscarriage Of Justice!
Indonesian Code of Criminal Procedure (KUHAP) breached!
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) breached!
Indonesian Police Chief admits case flawed and only 50% complete.
Indonesian court refused to test the marijuana to determine its origin.
Judges contaminated the evidence in court before the public.
Customs officers refused to follow basic investigative procedures.
Evidence destroyed in 2006 before all appeals were heard!
An Innocent Australian Fights for Justice!
This could happen to anyone of us!
Schapelle Action Support Group
[PO Box 149 Mulgrave, Victoria, 3170 Australia]
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Foreign Prisoner Support Services
www.foreignprisoners.com
Official Forum of Supporters
http://freeschapelle.s10.forumsplace.com/
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Free Schapelle
www.freeschapelle.net
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