The fiance of alleged drug trafficker Cassandra Sainsbury has “no doubt” of her innocence.
Scott Broadbridge has also voiced concerns about the “not ideal” conditions of Bogota’s El Buen Pastor women’s jail, saying his partner is under extreme stress.
Sainsbury, a 22-year-old fitness trainer from South Australia, was arrested at an airport in Colombia on 12 April with 5.8kg of cocaine hidden in her luggage. She says she was tricked into carrying the drugs, and believed she was bulk-buying headphones as presents for her wedding party.
Her family has alleged she was set up by a man she met in Colombia.
Broadbridge addressed the media in Adelaide on Friday morning with lawyer Stephen Kenny, who has represented Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.
Broadbridge pleaded with the media to stop camping outside his home, saying they were harassing him and his family. He acknowledged there were unanswered questions about the case, but said he was certain of his partner’s innocence.
“I would just like to say that I have no doubt Cass is innocent of the charges” he said.
“Cass is the light of my life, I know she was not involved in the drug trade, I know she was not deliberately taking drugs and carrying them anywhere.”
He did not take questions after making his initial statement.
Kenny confirmed that Sainsbury had not gone overseas for six months before going to Colombia, and had nothing tying her to South America that would cause her to travel there for a week.
It was her unusual travel plans that first raised the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s interest, according to News Corp, which reported that a plane ticket was bought for her by a third party in Hong Kong to fly from Australia to London and then to Bogota.
Kenny said he could not give a timeline of events.
Broadbridge and Sainsbury’s family have already refuted reports that she left Australia with significant debts, including money owed for a failed personal training business.
Kenny, acting pro bono for Sainsbury, said she was entitled to the presumption of innocence.
“Cass’ defence is going to be run in a court in Colombia, not in the media in Adelaide,” he said.
“We have great faith in the Colombian legal system and we’ll be doing everything we can to provide her the best possible defence that we can.”
Broadbridge said he was speaking to his partner daily.
“It is extremely stressful for her but we are able to talk almost every day and that is a great comfort for both of us,” he said.
“She is concerned about the conditions of the jail, which are not ideal, and it is very difficult for her not knowing anyone. I hope to be able to get over there soon, and I hope we are able to prove her innocence.”
Sainsbury’s Colombia-based lawyer, Orlando Herran, said she could face eight to 20 years behind bars, if convicted.
The barrister Jay Williams is also representing the family. He has previously urged them and their friends not to make statements publicly about the case, saying these could be damaging to Sainsbury’s case.
Kenny said he had spoken with Sainsbury on Friday morning, and she had asked him to act for her.
He said he did not want to get into an argument with Williams about who was representing Sainsbury. Friday’s news conference would not damage her position, he added.
