LAWYERS for Australian drug smuggler Scott Rush (pictured) say they have put the finishing touches on their final appeal against their client's death sentence.
But they have indicated they will not lodge the appeal with Indonesia's Supreme Court this month as expected and may choose to hold off for some time yet.
Rush is one of nine Australians arrested for trying to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia in 2005.
He is one of three - along with Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - on death row for the plot. All are expected to lodge their final appeals, known as judicial reviews, this year.
Rush's Bali-based lawyer, Robert Khuana, says his client's appeal is ready to go.
"We have finalised the appeal documents," he said.
Mr Khuana has previously said he planned to lodge the appeal before April.
But he now says he is more likely to lodge it in ``mid-April'', coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the group's arrest.
However, Rush's Jakarta-based lawyer, Frans Hendra Winata, says the legal team may choose to delay longer.
"We cannot be certain on when we're going to submit it," he said.
"April is only an estimate because we have to keep our eye on the political situation."
He did not elaborate.
If Rush's appeal fails he will be forced to seek clemency from Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who typically shows no mercy to drug smugglers.
Of the six couriers arrested at Denpasar airport Rush was the only one sentenced to death.
Renae Lawrence, who is expected to testify at Rush's final appeal hearings, is serving 20 years. The other five are serving life sentences.
Source: AAP, March 25, 2010
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