British grandma who's been on death row for 12 years is convinced she’ll escape execution

A British grandmother who has now been on death row for over a decade is reportedly convinced she’ll escape execution.

Back in May 2012, the likes of Lindsay Sandiford, who hails from Redcar, was arrested at Bali airport with £1.6 million worth of cocaine hidden in her luggage and she was later sentenced to death by firing squad in January 2013, despite prosecutors recommending a lesser sentence due to her cooperation and possibly being coerced.

The 69-year-old has now been on death row in Bali for 12 years at Kerobokan Prison, maintaining that she was forced into trafficking by threats to her family.

However, Indonesia enforces extremely strict drug laws, where death by firing squad is the maximum penalty, and appeals have been consistently rejected since her conviction.

Lindsay Sandiford, 69, has been on death row now for over a decade after being attempting to smuggle £1.6 million worth of cocaine into the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali from Bangkok, Thailand (SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier this year, it was reported that Sandiford is allegedly so convinced she will walk free that she has been giving her clothes to other inmates.

A source previously told the Mirror: "For a long time Lindsay was resigned to her fate, but now she's dreaming of freedom. Foreign Office officials have spent a lot of time visiting her in prison and they're working hard to secure her freedom."

Now, earlier this year, human rights barrister Felicity Gerry KC revealed there are discussions within the Indonesian government about abolishing the death penalty and making existing death sentences become long-term imprisonment instead.

Gerry explains that due to Sandiford's good behaviour of over a decade, her sentence could be reduced to life imprisonment - something which opens the possibility for her to be transferred back to the UK, where she might serve out a term or be released based on time already served.

Gerry has urged the UK Foreign Office to take a more proactive role in negotiating Sandiford's return to her home country, highlighting the fact that she has already served more time than she likely would have under UK law.

Sandiford is allegedly so convinced she will walk free that she has been giving her clothes to other inmates (SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to the Mirror back in December, she explained: "There is an apparent move by the Indonesian authorities to abolish the death penalty.

"So they're moving, in 2025, to implement a law that will commute death penalties into prison sentences.

"That law has not yet been enforced, but in the lead up, I think they are negotiating with more than one country about the return of people from overseas."

Gerry added: "Lindsay is someone who was compelled to commit a crime and she assisted the authorities so she helped identify those who were criminally responsible.

"So it seems to me she is the next person to be allowed to go home, this time to Britain. I think Indonesia is coming out of this well, recognising the modern world and moving forward.

"The real question is, what are the Foreign Office doing now in Britain? What are they doing?"

The human rights barrister resolved: "She's a British citizen who has served far more than she would serve in England and Wales whose position as a coerced defender has not been properly investigated as far as we can tell.

"We also know from previous reports she has suffered significant ill health which would be treated if she continued her imprisonment in England."