Malaysian drug trafficking charges against Australian mum Emma Louise L'Aiguille dropped

FREED mum-of-6 Emma Louise L'Aiguille says she will never take life for granted and is desperate to be reunited with her kids after escaping the death penalty in Malaysia.

Ms L'Aiguille's 4-month jail nightmare ended today, when prosecutors stunningly dropped drug trafficking charges against her.

"I feel great and am so glad that I'm free," she told the Herald Sun as she walked to freedom outside the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.

"I've learned a lot of things and not to take life for granted."

She also vowed to use her 2nd chance to forge bonds with her children and family.

"I'm going to use this to get closer to my family," she said.

Ms L'Aiguille, 34, was released after her defence successfully argued there was no evidence she had any knowledge of the drugs.

She said she was trying to adjust to the idea she was free, after living in fear she would face death by hanging in Malaysia.

"I'm lost for words. I just want to relax first," she said.

"I took freedom and life for granted."

Ms L'Aiguille said she would not be vulnerable and trusting any more.

Ms L'Aiguille had been facing the death penalty after she was charged with trafficking 1kg of methamphetamine on July 17.

But she had maintained her innocence, saying the drugs belonged to her boyfriend, Nigerian man Anthony Esikalam Ndidi, who disappeared when she was arrested.

Malaysian-based Australian lawyer Tania Scivetti, representing Ms L'Aiguille, argued the car in which the drugs were found did not belong to Ms L'Aiguille and she did not know there were any drugs in it.

Ms Scivetti said the defence team's arguments were accepted at a hearing in a Kuala Lumpur court early today.

"She's ecstatic," the lawyer said.

"I said to Emma on Thursday in prison, 'There's a really good chance of you coming out,' and she said, 'I don't believe it.'

"She said, 'I'm never going to get out.'"

Her freedom comes with 3 conditions: that she attend all hearings for Ndidi, expected early next year; that she co-operate with police if they require additional statements during those proceedings; and that she remain in Malaysia unless permission is granted for her to travel.

Ms Scivetti said it had been a very hard 4 months in custody for Ms L'Aiguille, who was originally from Melbourne but most recently worked as an aged care nurse in Perth.

She had consistently maintained her innocence.

She was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Ms Scivetti said.

Timeline: Emma Louise L'Aiguille's 4 months of hell

JANUARY 2012 -Ms L'Aiguille moves in with her boyfriend Anthony in Malaysia. Months later he becomes the target of a police drug operation.

JULY 17 - Arrested after police pounce in Kuala Lumpur's busiest tourists strip. Boyfriend escapes despite being target of police surveillance for drug activity. He remains on the run.

JULY 25 - Ms L'Aiguille sends her eldest daughter Tayla, 18, a Facebook message begging for help because she faces "DEATH if found guilty"

JULY 30 - Ms L'Aiguille weeps through her 1st court appearance where her lawyer revealed medical treatment was being denied to her client.

AUGUST 1 - Ms L'Aiguille's mother, Amanda Innes, pleads to government officials to spare her daughter the death penalty.

SEPTEMBER 25 - Sister Amber Lawn is the 1st family member to visit the accused drug trafficker in a Malaysian jail.

SEPTEMBER 27 - Mum Amanda Innes visits her daughter in jail. Ms Innes then calls out to the family of Schapelle Corby for help in how to deal with the situation

OCTOBER 1 - Ms L'Aiguille tells the Herald Sun she is desperate for a 2nd chance in life. Her court case was adjourned that day after the chemist report into the drugs was not ready.

NOVEMBER 9 - Charges against Ms L'Aiguille were dropped.

Source: AAP, November 9, 2012

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