VIRGIN boss Richard Branson has thrown his weight behind efforts to prevent a North-East gran from being executed.
Lindsay Sandiford, originally from Redcar, is in a Bali prison awaiting death by firing squad after being convicted of drug smuggling offences.
Ms Sandiford, 58, is the sole prisoner on death row on the island’s Kerobokan jail after the other inmates were executed last week.
In a letter she asked billionaire Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard and comedian Russell Brand to support her appeal after both spoke out against the execution of the ‘Bali nine’.
Today Sir Richard released a statement in which he said: “I strongly believe that the death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment, and
every execution is one execution too many.
“We are following Lindsay Sandiford’s and other cases closely and fully support efforts that are currently underway to aid her appeal.”
Last week Russell Brand posted an eight-minute video to YouTube accusing Indonesia of using the ‘Bali nine’ as “human sacrifice” in order to conceal
the country’s economic dependence on illegal drug trade but is yet to respond to Ms Sandiford’s appeal for his support.
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