DENPASAR, Bali - Police had to carry Schapelle Corby through a throng of journalists outside a Bali court today, where she will hear if prosecutors want her put to death for alleged drug tafficking.
The 27-year-old former beauty student from the Gold Coast arrived handcuffed to an Indonesian female prisoner,who collapsed shortly after they were let out of the police van and mobbed by dozens of reporters.
Corby's sister Mercedes rushed in to help, yelling angrily at journalists to "Leave her alone!" before hitting an Indonesian reporter over the head with her handbag.
Police were forced to carry the two prisoners, still handcuffed, to a holding cell at Denpasar District Court where Corby's case will again be heard today.
Corby appeared distressed as she arrived on one of the most important days of her trial.
She will learn today if prosecutors will seek the death penalty if she is convicted of smuggling 4.1kg of cannabis into Bali in her unlocked bodyboard bag last October. She has denied the charges.
Ultimately the decision lies with the panel of three judges hearing her case.
However, the general rule of thumb in Indonesia is that they will not go below one third of what the prosecution demands, and they rarely hand down a harsher punishment, observers said.
The Australian government has appealed to Indonesia for clemency.
In a similar case in Bali recently, prosecutors demanded the death penalty for a taxi driver who admitted possessing 3.9kg of marijuana.
Earlier today, a Gold Coast businessman supporting Corby's case, Ron Bakir, said he hoped she would make it to today's proceedings.
A hearing that had been scheduled for last week had to be put off after Corby fell ill, and Bakir today said she remained unwell.
Stress has been blamed for her deteriorating health over the course of the trial.
