Bali drug accused story heading to small screen

The story of accused drug trafficker Antony de Malmanche, will become the subject of a new documentary.

The story of a Kiwi facing death row in Bali is heading to the small screen, with New Zealand on Air committing close to $200,000 to the project.

The one-hour documentary Til Death Do Us Part will tell the story of Wanganui beneficiary Antony de Malmanche, who was arrested in Bali in December after officials allegedly found 1.7kg of methamphetamine in his backpack.

He has been in custody ever since, and if found guilty of drug trafficking, will be sentenced to death - likely by firing squad.

The documentary, which will screen on TV3, is set to be made by James Bellamy, who also made Brother Number One, the story of Kiwi yachtie Kerry Hamill, who was tortured and murdered by the Khmer Rouge in 1978.

Bellamy is currently in Hong Kong retracing de Malmanche's movements before his arrest.

The project is just one of five to receive money in the latest round of New Zealand on Air funding.

Other projects include a second season of TV One's nature documentary, Our Big Blue Backyard, and a new comedy series for TV3, featuring Australian comedian Heath Franklin.

NZoA Funding:

Our Big Blue Backyard: 2, 6 x 1hr, TV One, $2,066,927
Decades in Colour: 3 x 1 hr, Prime, $580,060
Smokefree Rockquest 2015: 4 x ½ hr plus 1 x 1hr, FOUR, $319,050
Til Death Do Us Part: 1 x 1hr, TV3, $195,000
Chopper's Line Up: 6 x ½ hr, TV3, $90,080

- nzherald.co.nz