Friday, April 17, 2015

REMEMBER JENNIFER NEAL – A VICTIM OF HEROIN OVERDOSE




Young death ... Jennifer Neal (aged 6 in the photo) was 17 when she died of a heroin overdose in 1997. Her mother Beverley says she prays that Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran die for their role in drug trafficking. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied


Mother whose daughter died of heroin overdose says Bali Nine duo ‘should be executed’

February 21, 2015 12:00AM


Heartbreak ... Jennifer Neal died of a heroin overdose in 1997. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied
A MELBOURNE mother who lost her teenage daughter to a heroin overdose has bravely spoken out against public support for Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, saying she hopes the men are executed.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop have been among those to condemn Indonesia for its planned execution of the men who have served ten years jail for coordinating a plot to smuggle 8.2 kilograms of heroin into Australia.

Public anger has even triggered a mass social media campaign to “Boycott Bali” in protest against the men’s treatment.

But Melbourne’s Beverley Neal said she “prayed that the men do get executed” and people started to realise they could not get drugs from Bali. 


Young death ... Jennifer Neal (aged 6 in the photo) was 17 when she died of a heroin overdose in 1997. Her mother Beverley says she prays that Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran die for their role in drug trafficking. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied
“These are criminals who have been glorified as heroes,” said Ms Neal.

“Who knows how many other lives would have been lost if they had not been caught in Bali.”

Indonesia’s attorney-general Muhammad Prasetyo yesterday said “nothing whatsoever” could stop the execution of Chan and Sukumaran, vowing they would face the firing squad as soon as possible.

His claims were at odds with Indonesia’s vice president Yusuf Kalla whose office claimed a delay of three weeks to a month on the executions had been conveyed to Ms Bishop in a phone call this week.

“There is a technical aspect that must be prepared before it is done,” the vice president’s spokesperson Husain Abdullah told a press conference in Jakarta.

It is understood Ms Bishop did have a conversation with Yusuf Kalla, however, the three-week time frame was not canvassed.

But the pair did discuss ways in which the two countries could work together to combat the narcotics trade.

And Mr Prasetyo denied reports that the President was not in possession of all the documents about Chan and Sukumaran and their rehabilitation when he rejected their clemency.

“No, everything was already there. There is the consideration from the Supreme court, about the case. I will tell you about it later,” Mr Prasetyo said.

Asked if the President knew about the changes in the Bali Nine and the mental illness of a Brazilian — also on death row — Mr Prasetyo commented that the change was only “nowadays”.

Ms Neal said she still grieved everyday for daughter Jennifer, who was just 17 when she died of a heroin overdose.

“It’s been 18 years, three months and 20 days,” she said. 


The mother of heroin overdose victim Jennifer Neal, Beverley, says Bali Nine duo’s parents should be thankful they got the chance to hold their sons and say goodbye. Picture: Supplied. Source: Supplied


“She was a very intelligent, a beautiful young woman in her first year of business college.

“They were trying to get her addicted. It was the fourth hit (that claimed her life).”

She said in her view, the parents of Chan and Sukumaran were very fortunate.

“They get to hold their sons, talk to them and say goodbye,” said Ms Neal.

“I never got to do that.”

But she held no sympathy for the men despite stories of their rehabilitation and work with other inmates at Kerobokan Prison.

“These drug dealers and traffickers are vicious criminals,” Ms Neal said.

“I only wish we had the same laws in Australia to properly deal with them.

“If we were doing it (executions) here we wouldn’t have a problem.”

Ms Neal said she felt compelled to speak out in favour of the executions on behalf of the thousands of Australian parents who had gone through what she had.

“It’s a terrible problem and it sickens me that the Prime Minister is trying to bully Indonesia,” she said.

“Three months ago he was saying “we’ve got to respect the Indonesian law”.

“Now he’s just saying what he thinks people want to hear.’’

COMMENTS AND CONDOLENCES:
            To all those who are the loved ones of Jennifer Neal, we will not forget her on the way she lived. We feel your sorrow and walk in your shoes as we ourselves, have lost loved ones through homicide too. We 100% agree with your opinion, as we did not get a chance to hug our loved ones, while those two on death row could have a chance to let their family members talk to them.

            We will not forget Jennifer Neal and may she RIP.

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