Fed: QC says more could have been done more to save Nguyen

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2005
Fed: QC says more could have been done more to save Nguyen

Prominent Victorian QC ROBERT RICHTER says more could've been done by the Australian
government and lawyers .. to save the life of NGUYEN TUONG VAN.

Mr RICHTER was part of a vigil held by members of the Victorian Criminal Bar Association
.. who gathered outside Melbourne's County Court to mark the moment when the 25-year-old
was executed in Singapore.

He's told the Today show the American and French governments had both successfully
intervened when their citizens were about to be executed in Singapore.

But he says the Australian government had failed to apply pressure.

Mr RICHTER also says the government should've sought NGUYEN'S extradition from Singapore
to Australia weeks ago.

And he's described Justice Minister CHRIS ELLISON'S remarks that Australia was unable
to intervene for extradition as absurd.

He says it was a federal offence and the Melbourne man was only in transit in Singapore.

AAP RTV hmg/ce/goc/bart

KEYWORD: NGUYEN RICHTER (MELBOURNE)

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