Where is British prisoner John Watson?
Six years ago, a British man from Bradford was arrested and jailed in Laos. John Watson was accused of smuggling amphetamines and was sentenced to life in prison in 2006. At the time of his arrest, the Watson family chose not to publicise his case, hoping they could quietly convince the Laos authorities to let him serve his sentence in the UK. BUT his name hit the headlines earlier this year - when another British prisoner - Samantha Orabator identified Mr Watson as the father of her unborn child. In a statement read in court on her behalf by the local prosecutor - she claimed to have artificially inseminated herself using John Watson's semen, and by becoming pregnant, avoided the death penalty for drug smuggling. Almost 3 wks ago, Samantha Orabtor was transferred to a British prison.
Meanwhile - Mr Watson was moved from a jail in the Laos capital Some reports say he has been taken to another jail that campaigners say is renowned for it's torture. But his actual whereabouts are unknown. This morning we'll talk to Mr Watson's sister who's never spoken about her brother's case before.
Also today, will banning GBL (it will become a Class C drug by the end of the year) stop people taking it?
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I am a bit surprised the mother of the girl who died after taking GBL hasn't clocked that her daughter needed drugs to have a good time. She was a medical student. Can't remember, but the sad death of this girl and the mother's campaign should extend itself to making young people aware you don't need drugs or drink to enjoy yourself.
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Delete "can't remember" please, I didn't edit.
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No banning law will stop anyone taking whatever drugs are available. It's a lost cause before it begins.
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What in heavens name is the point of having a senior policeman on whilst discussing a particular case that he won't comment on it? Waste of time, it's just half a story yet again.
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Can I hear the fathers 'compensation gene' clicking into gear here?
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"Meanwhile - Mr Watson was moved from a jail in the Laos capital Some reports say he has been taken to another jail that campaigners say is renowned for it's torture."
are we advocating compassionate treatment for this convicted drug smuggler?
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" Almost 3 wks ago, Samantha Orabtor was transferred to a British prison. "
and a prison sentence where life doesnt mean life. no outraged rants from laos then?
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With reference to The Wire and the shadow home secretary's comments or comparison to Moss Side he should note that the power of The Wire is that it not only shows the drug dealing gangstas the police sometimes good some times bad but crucially the corrupt politicians on the take happy that nothing changes for the poor and dispossessed. He should see the whole responsibility for the situation politicians on the take included.
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What is your shows fascination with asking for sympathy for drug criminals ?
Let Watson rot just as Orobator should have done then maybe lives in this country destroyed by the filth they were trafficking wont be destroyed.The Australian woman you had on kept referring to 16 year olds caught up by evil traffickers and totally ignored the fact that Watson was a 41 year old when he chose his path.
A very good friend of mine died in his early 20s through heroin addiction im certain his mother would prefer that he was in a Loatian prison instead of an Urn on her sideboard.
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Re: comment no. 4. Agree with you, Zelda. It was soooo Orwellian! "Well, as we couldn't get hold of an appropiate adult"; "the appropriate adult wasn't deemed as appropriate"; "when the appropriate adult arrived" etc etc et bloody cetra. Who the hell thinks and speaks like this? 'Appropriate adult'? How about...PARENT?
They arrested and chucked into a cell a 10 year old child. Her father was not informed until two hours had elapsed and when he understandably remonstrated with the police he was deemed 'not appropriate'.
What is this Country turning into? This account today chilled the marrow in my bones.
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Yesterday's interview with the father upset that his child had been handcuffed and held for some time by police should really have included the question, "And what have you, as a responsible adult, done to punish and discipline your daughter for assaulting another person?"
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//some time by police should really have included the question, "And what have you, as a responsible adult, done to punish and discipline your daughter for assaulting another person?"//
Well, quite except he wasn't given the opportunity. As the father pointed out the police should have taken the child home and the let the family deal with the situation (as would have happened years ago).
Instead they decided to arrest and chuck into a cell a 10 yr old child. Whilst I am certainly not condoning what the child did it surely is the family's responsibility to deal with this - or do you think it appropriate that a 10 yr old child be arrested and hauled off and, even worse, without informing anyone in her family for two hours?
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Victoria:
I think that the British authorities should be doing a full investigation about John Watson and, current status in the Laos prison system...
=Dennis Junior=
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Victoria Derbyshire:
Also today, will banning GBL (it will become a Class C drug by the end of the year) stop people taking it?
I have my major doubts that it will stop people from taking it!!!!!
=Dennis Junior=
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