Crunch day for drug accused

Today is the day Antony de Malmanche's legal team have spent months preparing for as the guts of the Wanganui man's legal defence on drugs charges play out in a Bali court.

De Malmanche was arrested in Bali in December and charged with trafficking 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, for which he could face death.

His defence is arguing he was a trafficked person and not a trafficker. He had been travelling overseas to meet his internet girlfriend, "Jessie".

The court hearing, which sits one day a week, has been running for a couple of months and the prosecution wound up its case two weeks ago.

Last week de Malmanche took the stand to give his statement and family spokesman, James Bellamy, who is in Bali, said the defence effectively had to wrap up its case today.

"Really, the prosecution case is weak. It's full of holes," Mr Bellamy said. "Antony has only been given a day and half, including today, for his defence. All expert witnesses [four] for the defence will be called today. Basically, the entire defence has to be delivered in one day."

From next week both sides

are expected to sum up. Meanwhile, de Malmanche's son Sean is in Bali and was there for his dad's birthday last week.

"We made a bit of a fuss," Mr Bellamy said. "We took him a cake in his holding cell, where he was waiting to go into court, which he shared with all of the inmates there. But it was a really tough day for him.

"The family's holding up well but everybody's nervous. Antony's holding up well even though he's under a great deal of stress."

De Malmanche, who is in Kerobokan Prison, is still suffering from angina attacks which cost a couple of days earlier in the trial.

Yesterday afternoon in Bali the legal team, including New Zealand lawyer Craig Tuck, were making final preparations for today's proceedings. He too said they would need to wrap up the defence today.

"That's the plan. That's not our plan, it's the judges' plan."

The family is still raising money to go towards his defence and related expenses via a Give A Little page at givealittle.co.nz/cause/antonydemalmanchelegalfund