Tearful Mercedes Corby takes the stand
By Amy Coopes
May 12, 2008 05:17pm
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MERCEDES Corby has denied smuggling or dealing drugs, or lying about her family's involvement in the drug trade.
Ms Corby today declared Schapelle Corby innocent of drug smuggling, fighting back tears as she told the NSW Supreme Court that her sister needed her family by her side to keep her sane.
Schapelle Corby is serving a 20-year sentence in a Bali prison after being convicted of drug smuggling in 2004.
Dressed in a black shirt, grey skirt and black, knee-high boots, 33-year-old Mercedes Corby today took the stand in her defamation claim against the Seven Network.
Ms Corby is suing Seven and a number of its staff for defamation over allegations made by her former best friend, Jodie Power, on the Today Tonight program and Seven news in February last year.
Ms Power gave interviews to the network claiming Ms Corby had used drugs with her and sold her marijuana.
Ms Corby today denied the allegations in the witness box, telling the jury she had never cultivated or sold marijuana.
She also testified she had never taken cocaine, shabu (a type of methamphetamine), speed or ecstasy, nor possessed the latter three drugs.
Ms Corby told the court she had never smuggled drugs into any country or instructed anyone else to do so, and had "no knowledge'' of the 4.1kg of cannabis Indonesian authorities found in her sister's luggage in 2004.
"My sister's innocent,'' Ms Corby declared.
Ms Corby denied interfering in her sister's trial, saying she had done "everything I can to help her''.
"Have you lied to the public about your involvement with drugs or your family's (involvement)?'' asked her lawyer Stuart Littlemore QC.
"No, never,'' Ms Corby replied.
The clothing designer fought back tears as she spoke of her sister's confinement, telling the jury she visited her every day in her Bali jail to take her food and clean clothes.
When Schapelle was sick or needed legal counsel, Ms Corby said she would arrange for doctors and lawyers, "whatever has to be done''.
"She needs us there for her sanity,'' Ms Corby wept.
Ms Corby said her brother, Michael, was currently in Bali caring for Schapelle in her absence, visiting her twice a day.
Mr Littlemore read an email from Ms Corby to Seven, written before it screened the programs in question, in which she begged them to thoroughly investigate Ms Power's claims before putting them to air.
In the email, which was circulated to Seven news director Peter Meakin and other managers, Ms Corby said Ms Power was "mentally unstable'' and would "say anything for money, she loves the limelight''.
Ms Corby told Seven she believed Ms Power was being used in a "smear campaign'' hatched by Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir and her sister's former lawyer Robin Tampoe.
Both men were painted in a bad light in Schapelle's biography and Ms Corby said she believed they were "putting Jodie up to speak on their behalf''.
"We believe that they are retaliating through the media with the help of Jodie, who they know was close to our family,'' Ms Corby wrote.
"This is a a carefully thought out and manipulative strategy.''
"I know it will be good ratings, but this is our life.
"Please give our family a fair go.''
Ms Corby said she believed any negative press, particularly anything linking her sister to drugs, could adversely affect the outcome of Schapelle Corby's final appeal, which was at that time before the Indonesian courts.
The Gold Coast woman, who has three children with her Balinese husband, said she received only a polite response from Seven's legal counsel assuring her Today Tonight "will be in touch with you if the need arises''.
The next she heard of the matter was when it was broadcast on February 13, she said.
Her evidence continues before Justice Carolyn Simpson.
May 12, 2008 05:17pm
-
MERCEDES Corby has denied smuggling or dealing drugs, or lying about her family's involvement in the drug trade.
Ms Corby today declared Schapelle Corby innocent of drug smuggling, fighting back tears as she told the NSW Supreme Court that her sister needed her family by her side to keep her sane.
Schapelle Corby is serving a 20-year sentence in a Bali prison after being convicted of drug smuggling in 2004.
Dressed in a black shirt, grey skirt and black, knee-high boots, 33-year-old Mercedes Corby today took the stand in her defamation claim against the Seven Network.
Ms Corby is suing Seven and a number of its staff for defamation over allegations made by her former best friend, Jodie Power, on the Today Tonight program and Seven news in February last year.
Ms Power gave interviews to the network claiming Ms Corby had used drugs with her and sold her marijuana.
Ms Corby today denied the allegations in the witness box, telling the jury she had never cultivated or sold marijuana.
She also testified she had never taken cocaine, shabu (a type of methamphetamine), speed or ecstasy, nor possessed the latter three drugs.
Ms Corby told the court she had never smuggled drugs into any country or instructed anyone else to do so, and had "no knowledge'' of the 4.1kg of cannabis Indonesian authorities found in her sister's luggage in 2004.
"My sister's innocent,'' Ms Corby declared.
Ms Corby denied interfering in her sister's trial, saying she had done "everything I can to help her''.
"Have you lied to the public about your involvement with drugs or your family's (involvement)?'' asked her lawyer Stuart Littlemore QC.
"No, never,'' Ms Corby replied.
The clothing designer fought back tears as she spoke of her sister's confinement, telling the jury she visited her every day in her Bali jail to take her food and clean clothes.
When Schapelle was sick or needed legal counsel, Ms Corby said she would arrange for doctors and lawyers, "whatever has to be done''.
"She needs us there for her sanity,'' Ms Corby wept.
Ms Corby said her brother, Michael, was currently in Bali caring for Schapelle in her absence, visiting her twice a day.
Mr Littlemore read an email from Ms Corby to Seven, written before it screened the programs in question, in which she begged them to thoroughly investigate Ms Power's claims before putting them to air.
In the email, which was circulated to Seven news director Peter Meakin and other managers, Ms Corby said Ms Power was "mentally unstable'' and would "say anything for money, she loves the limelight''.
Ms Corby told Seven she believed Ms Power was being used in a "smear campaign'' hatched by Gold Coast businessman Ron Bakir and her sister's former lawyer Robin Tampoe.
Both men were painted in a bad light in Schapelle's biography and Ms Corby said she believed they were "putting Jodie up to speak on their behalf''.
"We believe that they are retaliating through the media with the help of Jodie, who they know was close to our family,'' Ms Corby wrote.
"This is a a carefully thought out and manipulative strategy.''
"I know it will be good ratings, but this is our life.
"Please give our family a fair go.''
Ms Corby said she believed any negative press, particularly anything linking her sister to drugs, could adversely affect the outcome of Schapelle Corby's final appeal, which was at that time before the Indonesian courts.
The Gold Coast woman, who has three children with her Balinese husband, said she received only a polite response from Seven's legal counsel assuring her Today Tonight "will be in touch with you if the need arises''.
The next she heard of the matter was when it was broadcast on February 13, she said.
Her evidence continues before Justice Carolyn Simpson.
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