Holly Deane-Johns
Encyclopedia
Holly Deane-Johns is an Australian woman convicted in Thailand
of attempting to post a parcel of 11 grams heroin back to Australia. Further quantities of 15 grams of heroin was found in her Bangkok apartment and another 110 grams in the residence of her companion Robert Halliwell. Originally facing the death penalty, she pleaded guilty in 2003 to heroin trafficking in order to receive a reduced sentence of 31 years. Under Thai law, traffickers found with more than 100 grams of heroin face a mandatory penalty of death by lethal injection.
She was born in Western Australia
, where she attended Mount Lawley Senior High School
in Perth
, becoming a heroin addict at the age of 15. Her mother died from a heroin overdose. Deane-Johns spent six years in Western Australia's Bandyup Women's Prison
for a range of drug related offences prior to the Thai conviction.
She had flown to Thailand in early 2000 to reunite with her boyfriend, but after he returned early to Australia spent time with Halliwell, a mutual friend and fellow junkie who had fled to Thailand 20 years earlier to escape drugs charges in Australia.
, in 2006 Deane-Johns applied to be transferred to a Western Australian jail under a 2002 bilateral prisoner exchange agreement between Australia and Thailand. Despite Federal government approval, her application was refused by Western Australian Corrective Services Minister Margaret Quirk
.
On 14 June 2007, Federal Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator David Johnston
urged the Western Australian Government to reconsider its decision to block Deane-Johns' return but the request was promptly declined. Minister Quirk announced on 9 August 2007 that she now supported Deane-Johns' return to Australia based on new medical evidence that she had been provided with that indicated Deane-John's "already serious health problems would be further complicated should she remain in the Bangkok prison".
On 7 December 2007, Deane-Johns arrived back in Australia where she was transferred to Bandyup Women's Prison
. She is expected to serve another five years of her sentence there before being considered for parole
.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
of attempting to post a parcel of 11 grams heroin back to Australia. Further quantities of 15 grams of heroin was found in her Bangkok apartment and another 110 grams in the residence of her companion Robert Halliwell. Originally facing the death penalty, she pleaded guilty in 2003 to heroin trafficking in order to receive a reduced sentence of 31 years. Under Thai law, traffickers found with more than 100 grams of heroin face a mandatory penalty of death by lethal injection.
She was born in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, where she attended Mount Lawley Senior High School
Mount Lawley Senior High School
Mount Lawley Senior High School is a state high school in the Perth suburb of Mount Lawley, Western Australia.- Notable alumni :* Holly Deane-Johns* Marcus Graham* David Helfgott* Tammy MacIntosh* Nikita Rukavytsya* James Smillie* Graeme Snooks...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, becoming a heroin addict at the age of 15. Her mother died from a heroin overdose. Deane-Johns spent six years in Western Australia's Bandyup Women's Prison
Bandyup Women's Prison
Bandyup Women's Prison is located in the northeastern rural suburb of West Swan, Western Australia. Prior to its construction, the female prisoners were at Fremantle Prison, which was overcrowded and offered women limited opportunities....
for a range of drug related offences prior to the Thai conviction.
Background and arrest
Deane-Johns was arrested by Thai police in August 2000 when she attempted to mail a parcel, later found to contain about 11 grams of heroin at Bangkok Central Post Office in the company of Robert Halliwell. Thai narcotics agents had been monitoring their movements for two months previously.She had flown to Thailand in early 2000 to reunite with her boyfriend, but after he returned early to Australia spent time with Halliwell, a mutual friend and fellow junkie who had fled to Thailand 20 years earlier to escape drugs charges in Australia.
Prisoner transfer to Australia
After having spent seven years in incarceration in the Klong Prem Central Prison in ChatuchakChatuchak (district)
Chatuchak is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by seven other districts : Lak Si, Bang Khen, Lat Phrao, Huai Khwang, Din Daeng, Phaya Thai and Bang Sue.-History:...
, in 2006 Deane-Johns applied to be transferred to a Western Australian jail under a 2002 bilateral prisoner exchange agreement between Australia and Thailand. Despite Federal government approval, her application was refused by Western Australian Corrective Services Minister Margaret Quirk
Margaret Quirk
Margaret Mary Quirk is a current Australian Labor Party MP serving the role of Minister for Corrective Services; Small Business; Minister Assisting the Minister for Federal-State Relations in the state of Western Australia...
.
On 14 June 2007, Federal Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator David Johnston
David Johnston (politician)
David Albert Lloyd Johnston , Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 2002, representing the state of Western Australia. Johnston was born in Perth and was educated at University of Western Australia, where he graduated in law...
urged the Western Australian Government to reconsider its decision to block Deane-Johns' return but the request was promptly declined. Minister Quirk announced on 9 August 2007 that she now supported Deane-Johns' return to Australia based on new medical evidence that she had been provided with that indicated Deane-John's "already serious health problems would be further complicated should she remain in the Bangkok prison".
On 7 December 2007, Deane-Johns arrived back in Australia where she was transferred to Bandyup Women's Prison
Bandyup Women's Prison
Bandyup Women's Prison is located in the northeastern rural suburb of West Swan, Western Australia. Prior to its construction, the female prisoners were at Fremantle Prison, which was overcrowded and offered women limited opportunities....
. She is expected to serve another five years of her sentence there before being considered for parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
.