[Deathpenalty]death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Nov. 1


THAILAND:

Briton given death sentence after Thai drugs haul


A Briton has been sentenced to death and another jailed for more than 30
years for drug possession in Thailand.

Anthony Flanaghan, 34, from Nuneaton, will face execution if he fails to
win an appeal against his conviction for illegal drug possession with
intent to sell. He denied the charges.

However the Government will intervene on his before if his appeal is
unsuccessful.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Our policy is to make representations
against the use of a death sentence where it is imposed against a British
citizen.

"Obviously we are going to be seeking advice from Mr Flanaghan's lawyer.
We have to wait for all appeals to go through."

Stephen Willcox, 39, from Leicester was given a 33-and-1/2 year prison
term and fined 10,000 after admitting possession of drugs including
heroin, amphetamines and ecstasy.

Flanaghan was arrested in April last year following a tip-off as he got
off a bus in Bangkok. Flanaghan told officials that Willcox had paid him
to transport the drugs.

The defendants have 30 days to lodge an appeal, which could then take
several months. Many westerners in Thailand have had death sentences
commuted to life in prison.

(source: The Telegraph)