Drug suspect to testify against cohorts

DENPASAR, Indonesia, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- An Australian woman facing trial in Indonesia on drug trafficking charges will testify against her alleged cohorts in a bid to escape a possible death penalty.

Renae Lawrence is the only female among nine suspects on trial at Denpasar District Court for allegedly smuggling heroin into the resort of Bali last April.

Lawrence, who turns 28 this week, was informed Friday by her lawyer, Yan Apul Girsang, that the nine would be tried individually. She accepted his advice to testify against the other accused to prove she was the victim of a conspiracy, The Australian reported.

The report said Lawrence appeared shell-shocked, distressed and under pressure. She is being held in Kerobokan jail, where she has reportedly attempted suicide several times.

Lawrence was one of five arrested at the Bali airport, four with 8.2 kilograms of heroin strapped to their bodies. Four other defendants were arrested separately. All nine face a possible firing squad under Indonesia's narcotics law.

Lawrence and another defendant, Martin Stephens, claim they agreed to the operation only after alleged masterminds Andrew Chan and Sydney martial arts expert Myuran Sukumaran threatened to kill their families.