Michelle Leslie Heading Home
Guilty Leslie Heading Home
By Cindy Wockner in Denpasar
Amidst reports she has already secured a deal with a commercial network to sell her story, jailed underwear model Michelle Leslie will be freed later today.Leslie was expected to walk free at 8am (AEDT) and to be on the first flight out of Bali. She then intends to clear her name.
According to Sky News, a mix-up with prison authorities meant that the official who was to facilitate her release was at home asleep when her legal team arrived.
Sky News reported that she is likely to be released this afternoon, and will be held at Bali's airport until she can be flown out. Sky also reported that the model may give an interview offshore to prevent her being prosecuted under proceeds of crime laws.
In extraordinary scenes following the sentence, a beaming Leslie strode to the judges bench to shake hands with the three robed men who had effectively set her free.
She then shook the prosecutor's hand before hugging members of her own team.
Outside court, Leslie told the crowd: "I am happy to be going home, telling everything and clearing my name."
Her jubilation was a contrast to her demeanor as the sentence was read. She registered barely a flicker of emotion on her made-up face.
Arriving at court earlier in the day, she was relaxed and confident, smiling and letting out a high-pitched squeal when she walked in a water puddle.
She looked nothing like a young woman whose fate was in the balance.
After the hearing, her defence team would not elaborate on how Leslie would "clear her name" and whether it would be in the form of a paid interview.
They would also not comment on the "real facts", referred to earlier in the week.
Asked how her story would differ to what was said in court, her Australian lawyer Ross Hill said: "They are very much different and the fact is there was a certain version being presented by the police and there is another version we will be presenting in due course."
Mr Hill said there were issues relevant to clearing Leslie's reputation but not relevant to the court hearing.
"The fact is she knows the truth of the matter," he said.
Mr Hill denied Leslie's case had been a "show trial" or that Indonesia's justice system was the best that money could buy.
"Our position is that she should have been found not guilty," Mr Hill said.
"This case should never have been brought because the police did not do a thorough and complete investigation."
Leslie had been "extremely stressed about the decision, Mr Hill said.
"She has been most nervous because no one knows, contrary to reports, what the decision would be today".
Leslie was intending to "rest, relax and spend some time with friends and loved ones and think about what she is going to do with her life".
Her reunion with her parents and millionaire boyfriend Scott Sutton would be "very emotional", Mr Hill said.
The court found the 24 year old "guilty of receiving ecstasy".
She was sentenced under legislation reserved for users or addicts, which returns a lesser sentence than for dealers or traffickers.
She was also ordered to pay 1000 rupiah (14c) court costs.
Leslie was arrested when entering a Bali dance party on August 20. Police found two ecstasy pills in her handbag.
Source: News.com.au
Related article: Michelle Leslie Photo Gallery
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