Singapore hangs Australian drug smuggler (AP) Updated: 2005-12-02 08:28 Julian McMahon, one of his Australian lawyers, said Nguyen was "completely
rehabilitated, completely reformed, completely focused on doing what is good and
now they are going to kill him."
Another lawyer, Lex Lasry, said the family had a "beautiful last visit."
Khao Nguyen Tuong (R), brother of convicted
Australian drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van, and lawyer Julian McMahon (L)
leave Changi prison after Nguyen's execution in Singapore December 2,
2005. [Reuters] | "It was a great visit and quite
uplifting," he said, brushing away tears.
McMahon said Nguyen's mother had been allowed to hold her son's hand and
touch his face in her last visit.
"That was a great comfort to her," McMahon said.
Lasry has criticized Singapore's mandatory death penalty for some drugs cases
and attacked the clemency appeal process as lacking transparency.
But Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry said in an e-mail statement that every
petition for clemency is carefully considered by the president, "taking into
account all relevant factors."
"The president has in the past commuted the death penalty," the statement
said.
According to local media, Singapore has granted clemency to six inmates on
death row 錕斤拷 all Singaporeans 錕斤拷 since independence in 1965.
Earlier Thursday, Australian Attorney General Philip Ruddock called the
planned execution "a most unfortunate, barbaric act that is occurring."
Asked about the comment in Berlin, Lee would only say that "the Australian
press is colorful." Lee emphasized that all factors, including Australian
letters for clemency, had been "taken into account" but said "the law will have
to take its course."
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