Lesley Martin walks from prison with family at her side

Lesley Martin (centre) dances with joy as she is greeted by supporters following her release from Arohata Prison near Wellington. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Voluntary euthanasia campaigner Lesley Martin walked to freedom from Arohata Women's Prison this morning, after 7-1/2 months in jail for the attempted murder of her terminally ill mother, Joy Martin.

Martin was jailed for 15 months in April by the High Court at Wanganui for attempted murder by injecting her mother, Joy Martin, 69, with 60mg of morphine in May 1999.

Martin walked from the prison about 8.45am with her arm round son Sean, 10, and holding the hand of stepdaughter Sophie, nine.

Walking with her were voluntary euthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke, her brother Michael Martin and other supporters.

Her husband, Warren Fulljames, and adult son Matt were also present.

"I'm very, very, very pleased to be out," Martin said.

"It's seriously hard yakka in prison, and I'm just very pleased to be going home to my family."

Martin said her time in prison was "very hard".

"It's very difficult for anyone in there. For the women who I've left behind I just wish them all the best, because it takes resilience and strength to get through Arohata."

Martin said when she first arrived at the prison she was in shock for about three days.

Despite this she said she had no regrets.

"No, not at all. This is part of bringing more awareness to the whole issue of VE (voluntary euthanasia) in New Zealand and the situations people find themselves in because we don't have decent legislation," she said.

"If I can just continue to tell people what it's really like, and make them apply it to themselves and think quietly what they would do in certain situations and the options they would want to have then it will have been worth it."

Martin said the day was not too far off when New Zealand would have humane legislation so people in her situation would not be imprisoned.

"Even one day in prison is too much for somebody who was in the position that I was in."

Martin said she would not be taking part in the workshops Dr Nitschke would be running shortly as her immediate priority was her family.

Michael Martin said he was delighted his sister was out of prison in time for Christmas.

They were now awaiting the Court of Appeal decision on Martin's appeal against conviction and sentence, Mr Martin said.

The Court of Appeal reserved its decision last month.

Martin told National Radio being out of jail was the best feeling in the world.

"There's just so much air out here, so much sky and air, and my husband and younger son and stepdaughter were waiting inside for me so I got to grab and hug them first.

"Then I was able to meet up with my eldest son and friends and supporters just out in the carpark so it was just wonderful."

Martin said she expected to meet violent, hardened women in prison but that was not the case.

"It's an absolute cross-section of society in Arohata and I didn't expect to like so many people," she said.

Martin said Christmas would be a quiet, relaxing time for the family. She would join her husband in their new house in New Plymouth that he moved into while she was in Arohata.

She was looking forward to spending time with her children during the school holidays and would continue her campaign for VE in the New Year, she said.

Dr Nitschke, head of pro-euthanasia organisation Exit Australia, told National Radio today was an important day.

"What Lesley's been going through has been watched by people all over the world, and certainly in Australia, and it's a stark reminder to us that the law on this issue is uncompromising and really needs to change," he said.

"I don't think if we look closely at what Lesley did, anyone would believe that she should be sitting in a prison for really doing a kind, compassionate and loving thing and following the promise that she made to her mother."

Dr Nitschke was planning a workshop next year where people would learn to make their own "exit pills".

He said people in Australia and here were fed up with the slowness of the political process.

"In Australia many people are saying 'look, we can't wait around any longer, we want to have real life choices'," he said.

"So the strategy is a simple one. About 30 75-year-olds will come together next year and they'll go to a location in the country and they'll all make themselves a peaceful pill -- that's the best pill, the best drug that you can take at any time you want and know you've got the option of a peaceful death."

Some of the people attending would be New Zealanders and Dr Nitschke would meet with potential candidates during his current visit, he said.

Four New Zealanders would be involved in the Australian workshop, and it was hoped a full workshop would be run in New Zealand some time in 2005, he said.

The pill is actually a barbiturate drug which people can drink.

"It's a small drink, not a pill, and you will go to sleep within a few minutes and you will die about an hour or so later."

Elderly people in large numbers wanted the option, even though it was likely they would never have to take it, he said.

"The idea of having this in the cupboard, knowing that it's there, older people find this immensely reassuring."

Legal issues were involved, as it was currently illegal to assist a suicide, and there were also political issues, he said.

"I can't see any government, be it in Australia or New Zealand, wanting to put 30 75-year-olds on trial for simply trying to establish a very real and viable end-of-life option."

- NZPA