Corby case to be reopened

Schapelle Corby

PERTH - The drug trafficking case against Australian Schapelle Corby will be reopened after the High Court in Bali agreed to hear new evidence about the ownership of more than 4kg of marijuana.

The judges who presided at Corby's trial have given her lawyers the opportunity to present witnesses who can show the 27-year-old did not own the marijuana found in her luggage at Bali airport last October.

Bali High Court Chief Judge Made Lingga reportedly said that, while he believed the original hearing was sufficient, he was prepared to agree to requests from Corby's defence team and reopen hearings in the District Court in Denpasar.

The High Court judges have asked that the defence only bring forward the main witnesses relevant to ownership of the drugs, ABC radio said today.

Corby was sentenced on May 27 to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of smuggling 4.1kg of marijuana into Bali.

Today, Australian QC Mark Trowell, who was called in to assist the former Gold Coast beauty student's appeal, said he was delighted by the development.

"I'd just say I am delighted. It's good to see a lot of hard work has paid off for her," Mr Trowell told reporters in Perth.

"I'm not going to try and claim credit for this decision.

"A lot of people have worked towards this and it is just a wonderful thing to see."

- AAP