North East gran spends birthday on death row

Wait goes on for firing squad sentence woman

A NORTH East gran is one of two Brits waiting anxiously on death row in Indonesia as renewed calls to halt the execution system have been made.

Lindsay Sandiford, from Redcar, was sentenced to death by firing squad in January 2013 after she was caught in Bali Airport with 4.8kg of cocaine.

Since then she has desperately tried to appeal the execution and has continuously said she was carrying the drugs to protect her son who was being threatened.

No date has been set for the 61-year-old’s execution, but it is believed that the Indonesian authorities are preparing for more executions as president, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, steps up the country’s war on drugs.

This is despite an official watchdog finding this week that Indonesia executed a Nigerian man last year while his case was unresolved.

Humphrey Jefferson was executed by firing squad along with three other, despite there still being a chance of pardon in his case, leading to renewed calls to halt executions in the Asian country.

Charity Human Rights Watch said in a statement: “Indonesia should restore the unofficial moratorium on the death penalty and ensure the rights of criminal suspects, including those implicated in drug crimes, are respected rather than steamrolled.” Lindsay Sandiford’s birthday cake

Sandiford recently celebrated her 61st birthday behind bars at Kerobakan Prison with a special cake.

In a message posted on the Justice and Fairness for Lindsay Sandiford Facebook page, the North East gran thanked her supporters.

The message reads: “Dear Friends and supporters. Thank you to everyone for your kind wishes for my 61st birthday last weekend. I had a thor- Indonesian customs officers escort Lindsay Sandiford in May 2012 oughly enjoyable day with visits from some dear friends, a delicious cake, and messages from my family and supporters from around the world.

“I was immensely touched by all your warm thoughts, and I would like to add a heartfelt thank-you to the wonderful governor at the women’s prison here, for making the small celebration possible.

“I would like you all to know that I am keeping well and continuing to work and teach other women on various handicrafts.

“In the meantime, keep me in your thoughts and thank you all again for your friendship and support.”