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BYRON BAY mother of two Sara Connor faces a likely three years in jail, separated from her nine and eleven year old boys, after Bali judges sentenced her to four years minus time served for her role in the death last August of a Bali police officer.
Sara, 46, will now consider whether to appeal the sentence, a potentially double-edged sword in Indonesia where judges in higher courts regularly increase sentences on appeal.
After sitting rigidly throughout the verdict today, delivered at the end of a four-month trial during which she has steadfastly maintained her innocence, Sara rushed from the court in tears.
In stark contrast, her British boyfriend and co-accused David Taylor looked clearly relieved less than an hour earlier when the panel of three judges sentenced him to six years jail, minus seven months already spent in detention.
Immediately after the judges handed down Sara’s verdict, her lawyer Robert Khuana said his client was “very stressed and confused so it is better for us to wait for one day.”
“We will meet her in prison tomorrow but we will advise that she appeal. I am confident that she is innocent and her verdict might be overturned.”
A statement released on behalf of Connor’s family and friends said they were “devastated” by the verdict.
“She has pleaded her innocence from the very beginning and we had been hoping that she would have been acquitted of all charges.
“The whole trial has been traumatic for the family especially Sara’s two boys. At least we have certainty now. We would appreciate that the media respect the privacy of the family at this time.”