Mum speaks of 115-day jail hell

A relaxed Emma L'Aiguille after being released yesterday. Picture: Azhar A Rahim Source: Herald Sun

FREE AT LAST...Emma L'Aiguille leaves the Kuala Lumpur court complex yesterday after being released from Kajang Women's prison. Picture: Azhar A Rahim Source: Herald Sun

EXCLUSIVE: BETRAYED by her boyfriend, chained in a stifling prison cell with killers, and facing the death penalty, Emma L'Aiguille could only think of the six children she would leave behind.

Most of all, she could not believe it had taken all this to realise her children were the most important thing in her life.

"I admit I am a bad mother but I deserve a chance," Ms L'Aiguille said in her first extended interview with the Herald Sun.

Lying on a mattress that is only 5cm thick inside her prison cell, she was surrounded by 16 other women - among them a murderer, drug traffickers and those who have breached their visa.

"Look where I am, how did I get here? I just can't believe it has taken this for me to realise how important life is," she said yesterday after being freed from the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on drug charges.

"I am in a cell with all these women crammed like sardines. I was freaked out because I didn't know what was happening. I was scared of never coming out again."

Playing on her mind the most were the six children she left behind.

Timeline: Four months of anguish

They haven't been in her care since a young age and she can understand the question 'What sort of mother does this?' when she left them after giving birth to them.

"It's my biggest regret in life leaving those kids. I should've paid them more attention and I'm sorry that it has taken until now to work that out," she said.

''I am in a cell with all these women crammed like sardines. I was freaked out because I didn't know what was happening. I was scared of never coming out again

"I felt bad but didn't know why I did it. Looking back now, I was stupid.

"I was accused of being a drug trafficker and have been released. Even the police thought I deserved a chance. I've got wiser and more mature and need forgiveness."

She wants the kids back in her life but won't play home wrecker.

"I'll be happy if I can just have them on holidays or weekends. I understand they have new lives now and I can't interrupt that after all these years," she said.

Special investigation: Mum's troubled life

The desire to be free and not be tied down saw her leave her children behind and follow love.

She said she longs for true love, the kind of love celebrated in romance novels or soppy Hollywood flicks.

But it was this lust for love that landed her in jail facing death after she was charged with trafficking 1kg of methamphetamine in Kuala Lumpur.

It was a nervous wait for Emma L'Aiguille before she was told she was being released yesterday. Picture: Azhar A Rahim Source: Herald Sun

Her love rat boyfriend, only known as Tony, bolted when police swarmed on his car on July 17 this year on one of the city's busiest tourist strips.

She was told he had to go meet a friend, unaware that the drugs were under the passenger car seat.

But when an undercover policeman started banging on her car she knew something was wrong.

"I was in shock and my hands were shaking and I couldn't even open the door," she said.

"I was expecting to see Tony but I had a policeman in plain clothes flashing his badge on the window and yelling 'Get out of the car, get out of the car'. He was tapping that hard I thought the window was going to break.

"I was saying 'What is going on, what is going on?' and I didn't know what to think because I had no idea what was happening."

He had abandoned her when she needed him the most.

The pair met in December last year at a friend's Christmas celebration.

By February, they were dating, living together a few months later, and even had a Nigerian wedding, which wasn't legally binding.

He was handsome, a soccer player and knew all the right words to say.

All charges have been dropped for an Australian mother of six who faced the death penalty in Malaysia.

"I'm not going to be so trusting anymore. He told me he loved me after a week. I was angry at him but more angry at myself. I should've known better," she said.

It did not take long for Ms L'Aiguille's dream man to become a nightmare. Tony was controlling and jealous. He took her phone, clothes and made her dump her friends.

One day, he locked her up in the home and beat her until she passed out.

Ms L'Aiguille escaped to Indonesia the following day but for a reason she can't comprehend, returned to him the next day.

"I have to have someone to take care of. I like to stay at home, cook and clean," she said.

Emma L'Aiguille gets a hug from her dad Wayne Walton outside court in Malaysia yesterday after learning drug trafficking charges, for which she faced the death penalty, had been dropped. Source: Supplied

Prison was almost a savior to her. For a woman who has been on the run from the age of 16, her world had finally collapsed aged 34.

No longer could she shed responsibility or run from her predicaments. She had hit rock bottom.

The thought of dying with a noose around her neck petrified Ms L'Aiguille.

She did not eat for the first week and did not sleep.

"I was totally scared and was going out of my wits. I even started to get grey hair," she said.

Behind bars she would read at least 20 books, make bracelets from soap and eat a regular, repetitive diet of bread, eggs, soup and rice or noodles and lost 30kgs.

Yesterday, she walked from court a free woman after four months in Kajang Women's Prison.

Driving to a hotel, she was amazed how things had changed even in that time. Buildings, fashion and even petrol prices.

"The money is like Australian money, it's now plastic. It used to be paper," she said.

Then she sipped on a Funky Monkey cocktail.

"Oh this is so good. It just tastes like a banana smoothie," she laughed.

Her four months locked up waiting for a date with the hangman's noose seemed like an eternity.

"It's amazing how big the small things in life now feel," she said.

aleks.devic@news.com.au

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Clinton plans busy Aussie trip

Prime Minister Julia Gillard met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011. Picture: Herald Sun Source: AP

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to Australia next week, joining up with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta for annual bilateral security and strategic talks, a US official said Friday.

Mrs Clinton leaves Sunday heading for Perth and the annual US-Australia meeting of ministers, where she will also meet with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister Bob Carr, a State Department statement said.

The Perth summit on November 14 comes after the arrival of US Marine and Air Force units to northern Australia, seen as evidence of an American "rebalance" towards the Pacific after a decade of ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She will also travel to Adelaide to meet Australian business leaders as well as visit Techport Australia, a huge shipbuilding facility.

Australian newspapers also reported that Mrs Clinton, who has said she plans to step down at the end of her four-year term in January, would make a private trip to meet close friends in Adelaide.

The much-travelled top US diplomat then heads to Singapore on Friday to meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Foreign Minister Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

From Singapore, Mrs Clinton will join up with President Barack Obama in Thailand on his first foreign visit since he won a historic second term in Tuesday's presidential elections.

Mrs Clinton will join Mr Obama on November 18 for meetings with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck and other senior Thai officials "to underscore our strong alliance and discuss shared priorities and regional issues in advance of the ASEAN East Asia Summit," Ms Nuland said in the statement.

She will then accompany Mr Obama on his landmark trip to Burma on November 19, before heading with him to Cambodia for the US-ASEAN leaders meeting and the East Asia summit.

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Dumped dead baby 'up to month old'

Police say this towel is a new clue in the case of the dead baby found in Charters Towers. Source: The Courier-Mail

A BABY who was found dumped dead in the yard of a home may have been up to one month old.

Police have released an image of a towel found at the scene in Charters Towers, northern Queensland, in a bid to identify the child and its mother.

The infant, who had a fractured skull, was found on Sunday morning by a shocked Mahoney St resident as she went outside to feed her dog, the Townsville Bulletin reported.

The child's sex and race are yet to be released and it is understood police are still determining cause of death.

"Early indications are that the child was possibly up to one month old. Our inquiries have identified a distinctive black and white striped skirt and a towel with a light pink and blue flower pattern that we believe are related to our investigation," Townsville Detective Inspector David Nixon said.

"We ask that if anyone has any information about these items they contact Crime Stoppers or their local police."

Police ask anyone who may know a woman who was recently pregnant but cannot explain the loss of her baby to come forward.

"We are also urging the mother to come forward as we hold concerns for her welfare," Insp Nixon said.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

For help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 131 114.

Read more in the Townsville Bulletin

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Taxi driver accused of hit-run

A TAXI driver who refused a short fare proceeded to carry out a hit-run on the passenger he stranded.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the incident in South Melbourne on October 19 which left a 26-year-old Clifton Hill man nursing broken toes and a sprained ankle.

The man and a friend left a licensed venue on Albert St and were waiting for a taxi between 4am and 5.30am.

A taxi pulled up alongside the pair, however it is alleged the driver refused to transport them because of the insufficient length of their requested trip.

When the driver departed the scene, it is believed he clipped the victim's leg and allegedly ran over his foot which caused him to fall over.

The driver refused to stop and was last seen travelling towards city-bound along St Kilda Rd.

He is described as being aged in his mid 20s, perceived to be Indian in appearance with a thin build.

He was wearing a taxi uniform and driving the traditional yellow taxi sedan.

The victim was taken to The Alfred hospital with three broken toes and a sprained ankle.

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
 

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Indian consul general dies

Dr Subhakanta Behera (far right) with wife Rajashree, son Ananya and daughter Amruta. Source: Supplied

THE Indian community is in deep shock today after the sudden death of Melbourne's Consul General Dr Subhakanta Behera last night.

The married father of two is thought to have suffered a heart attack at his home in Melbourne.

An ambulance was called but paramedics were unable to revive him.

Subhakanta Behera, who holds a doctorate from England's prestigious Oxford University, was appointed the Indian Consul General for Melbourne in May last year.

He leaves behind wife Rajashree, son Ananya and daughter Amruta.

The son of Dr Behera, who passed away last night, said his dad collapsed after his routine treadmill workout.

"He had just finished on the treadmill – he does 30 minutes every day – when he got a glass of water.

As he was talking to mum in the kitchen, he just collapsed," Ananya Behera, 21, said.

"I was studying upstairs and mum called out to me. He has fainted once before, about two or three years ago when we were back in Dehli, but he came around after we put some water on his face.

"This carried on, continued for about 30 seconds, and I started to get scared and called triple zero.

"The ambulance was here in about four or five minutes but before then neighbours rushed in and had started chest compressions and CPR. Nothing could be done."

He said his dad suffered from high blood pressure and asthma but was otherwise a fit and healthy man who had only turned 50 in June.

"My dad worked very hard but he was a family man first and foremost.

"He valued his family and kept track of the smallest things. He cared for the smallest things in life, and it was these minor things that made him happy. He was a very loving and caring dad."

Ananya said his dad was a Hindu and would be cremated in India.

The family planned to return to their home country on Wednesday.

"At this critical juncture in my life all I can really say is - 'Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away!', Ananya posted on social media today.

"My father passed away last night in what the paramedics said was a massive heart attack.

"I'd like to thank everyone - family, friends, relatives, neighbours - for their undying support and condolence messages.

"I hope my father is out there in spirit watching over me and giving me the resolute strength to take care of my family.

"Rest In Peace Papa,'' the statement ended.

Dr Behera, who originates from Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, India, graduated from Jawaharlal Nehru University before starting his diplomatic career in Moscow.

He also worked in Uzbekistan, then Bulgaria and Washington DC, America, before returning to India's capital, New Dehli, as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.

He has also published six fiction stories, two poetry anthologies, three essay collections and an English novel as well as two academic papers and several articles in international journals.

The Herald Sun understands the Behera family were due to return to India on holiday at the end of November until mid-January for a holiday.

In an interview with the Indian Executive magazine in April, Dr Behera spoke of his love for Melbourne and Australia.

"Melbourne is a beautiful place ... it has widespread greenery, broad roads and vast meadows,'' he said.

"The people of Melbourne are friendly, generous and I find it a truly multicultural society.

Asked how Indians could contribute to the cultural  "melting pot'' here, he replied: "I do not believe that Australia or Victoria is a cultural melting pot. Because if it is a melting pot, then no group could retain its individual identity.

"So in my opinion, this great country is more like a big bouquet where individual communities and groups retain their identities as individual flowers. Indians... add to the rich tapestry of Australia's culture.''

Wife Rajashree is a dancer who gives classes and training sessions in the cultural Odissi dance across Australia.

Daughter Amruta attends Melbourne Girls' College and Ananya is completing a Software Engineering degree at Monash University and also works in IT support at the Victorian Institute of Technology.

The family have posted many pictures of their travels across Australia online.

jon.kaila@news.com.au

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Man wins $2m while holidaying in Robe

A LUCKY holidaymaker has become an instant millionaire after scoring a record $2.15 million Keno Spot 10 prize at the Robe Hotel.

The man presented his winning ticket, believed to have been purchased on Thursday, to SA Lotteries Head Office on Friday afternoon after hearing on the radio that the multi-million jackpot had been won at the Robe Hotel.

"It feels surreal as Ive been playing the same Keno numbers for a long time,'' the man said.

"I only thought to check my ticket after hearing on the radio that someone who bought their ticket at the Robe Hotel had won.''

The man said he plans to buy a new home and pay off some bills with his winnings.

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Airlines back to normal after glitch

Hundreds of frustrated passengers voice their anger with Jetstar at Sydney Airport this morning. Picture: Jonty Bush/Facebook Source: The Daily Telegraph

The chaos at Melbourne Airport this morning with Jetstar and Virgin Australia check-in systems crashing. Source: Herald Sun

AIRLINE check-in systems affected by a computer glitch are back online and the queues of delayed passengers are clearing.

Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways are electronically checking in the backlog of passengers after having to manually process passengers  in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney during the two-hour IT outage. 

Frustrated passengers vented their anger after lengthy airport delays across the country .

Virgin staff handed out water bottled to disgruntled customers, many of whom had no idea when their flights would be called.

Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Tiger Airways this afternoon announced that the check-in system is now back in operation, although delays will continue as they work through the backlog.

"The system is back up and running now, but we are still expecting delays," Melissa Thomson of Virgin Australia said this afternoon.

"It's a domino effect as the same plane makes flights out of multiple airports throughout the day. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are taking the brunt."

A Jetstar spokesman said the outage caused delays across the airline's network and staff were working to process delayed passengers as quickly as possible.

"We know that this has inconvenienced our customers and we thank them for their patience as we process passengers,'' he said.

Tiger Airways spokeswoman Vanessa Regan said the Navitaire system came back online just before midday. She said the outage had caused a half an hour delay for several Tiger flights.

"We did have a couple of minimal delays but we expect to smooth those over now,'' Ms Regan said.

At Sydney Airport the delays exceeded two hours, with improvised boarding passes meaning there were no set seats.  "Sit where you like," passengers were told.

At Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne, most Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights had been delayed by up to four hours, with problems continuing when they were boarding, with seats having to be reallocated.

Jason English flew in to Sydney with wife Jenny and six-month old son Archie for a Cycling Australia function on Friday night, where he was named Australian Mountain Biker of the Year.

The young family turned up to Sydney Airport over three hours early for their 12.15pm flight back to Port Macquarie, so they could enjoy the Virgin Lounge for the first time.

Jason, speaking from amidst the "mob-like scenes" said they were shocked when they arrived.

"There's people everywhere," he said. "It was a bit of a rude surprise. If we had of known we would have stayed at our hotel in Circular Quay."

English said the confusion and lack of communication from Virgin staff was making passengers "freak out" across the terminal.

"We were lining up for over two hours in what we thought was a queue for check-in," he said. "Then they told us there were no queues and they were doing the planes one by one.

"Archie is not very happy, he definitely needs a sleep.

"We were going to get him some sleep in the lounge, but that's proved impossible."

English said Virgin had provided disgruntled passengers with improvised hand-written boarding passes without frequent flyer numbers written on them. Virgin is yet to confirm if passengers will be receiving frequent flyer points as a result of this morning's computer crash.

"It was going to be the highlight of our weekend," English said. "But it certainly isn't."

NBL team Adelaide 36ers are among the thousand-plus people waiting to check-in for their Virgin flights at Tullamarine's departure terminal.

Basketballer Adam Gibson said having their 10am flight home delayed was another blow to the team after losing to the Melbourne Tigers last night.

"It is definitely making (the loss) worse," Gibson, 26, said.

He said the team was planning on preparing for tomorrow's game against Perth but now had no idea what time they would arrive in Adelaide.

Delayed flights are being called individually so passengers can be manually boarded.

At 8.15am, a Courier-Mail reporter due to fly from Brisbane to Cairns said Jetstar's check-in system had crashed.

Brisbane Airport Corporation confirmed that Jetstar's check-in system had experienced an error that was delaying flights nation-wide.

A Herald Sun reporter due to board a 10am flight from Melbourne to Sydney said the Virgin Australia area at Tullamarine Airport was chaos, with hundreds of passengers waiting to be manually boarded.

She said Virgin staff told passengers the whole computer check-in system was down and they would manually board passengers, although that process is yet to begin. She added that the last flight to depart was the 9.40am to Maroochydore.

One of the passengers caught in this morning's chaos is 2009 Young Australian of the Year Jonty Bush who is attempting to return to Brisbane airport after a dinner last night with Prince Charles and Camilla in Sydney.

Chaotic scenes at Sydney domestic airport departure lounge as the booking system fails and thousands are left to be manually checked in by staff. Picture: Sam Ruttyn Source: The Sunday Telegraph

Having flown down with Qantas for the event organised by Governor-General Quentin Bryce with Qantas, Bush told The Sunday Telegraph she was kicking herself for not booking return flights with the Flying Kangaroo.

"I don't know why I always fall for this," she said. "I've had maybe two out of six successful flights with Jetstar."

Describing the scene at Sydney Airport, Bush said: "It's horrendous. There' no progression, no movement.

"We've got no idea what's going on, there's literally hundreds of people trying to check in and there's no computer kiosks working.

"It's out of control."

Inspiring ... Anti-violence advocate Jonty Bush with her Young Australian of the Year award in 2009. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: news.com.au

Bush was invited to Friday night's dinner thanks to her pioneering work in setting up the "One Punch Can Kill" campaign after losing family members to violence in her teens.

Melissa Thompson of Virgin Australia said: "We are having an issue, as is Jetstar," Melissa Thompson of Virgin Australia said.

"It is a slow process, but we are booking in passengers manually at the moment."

Virgin Australia said no flights had been cancelled.

The system crash has also affected the Jetstar website, with customers unable to search flights or book online.

Unimpressed passengers are turning to Twitter to vent their frustrations about the delays.

"Well this is fantastic! @VirginAustralia systems are down so looks like I'm stuck in Brisbane airport for who knows how long!," PetieRee tweeted.

efjohnhunter said: "@VirginAustralia check-in line is all the way down to the @JetstarAirways check-in desks. #SydneyAirport."

ssharwood tweeted: "@VirginAustralia experiencing "nationsl (sic) system outage" and all flights grounded in Sydney. Grumpy."

One Jetstar customer, Alex Cassimaty tweeted: "First there was trackwork, [sic] then my bus didn't show up and now Jetstar's check-in system is down. MELBOURNE WHY DON'T YOU WANT ME."

Bruce Ehrlich on the Daily Telegraph's Facebook page tweeted: "At Mackay airport waiting in line with Jet Star. Virgin and Qantas aren't having problems here only Jet Star!"

A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed the airline, which uses a different computer system to subsidiary Jetstar, was unaffected.

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Prince Charles thanks 'kind' Aussies

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visit the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on the last day of a Diamond Jubilee tour. Picture: Chris Radburn Source: Getty Images

PRINCE Charles thanked Australians for being "wonderfully kind", as he and wife Camilla wrapped up a six-day tour which has taken them from the Outback to Bondi Beach.

Hundreds of people came to see the royal couple at their final destination in Canberra, with one woman offering the prince a packet of chocolate Tim Tams - which he had said he hoped someone would allow Camilla to try.

"You're very kind," Charles told Alyson Richards, 25, as she handed over the biscuits and wished him a happy birthday for next week.

At a lunch at Government House, Charles said it had been a joy to visit Australia, where the couple had met hundreds of community volunteers, as well as been able to see the local wildlife, including koalas and kangaroos, up close.

"When we finally get back, after a very, very, long journey, if I'm still reasonably compos mentis by then and haven't completely lost my marbles to jet lag, I will report back to Her Majesty your wonderfully kind thoughts and expressions after our visit," he said.

He said while the tour had not allowed them to visit as many places as they would have liked, it enabled them to "witness so many of the changes that have happened here since I was here last".

"And to witness... the extraordinary vibrancy of the multicultural society which Australia is and which of course has stood Australia in such remarkable stead in terms of the richness and diversity which you can see only too well."

Earlier, Charles watched as one of the terraces of Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin was named after the Queen, following a tradition of naming the terraces after Australia's monarchs since the country became a federal state in 1901.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the renaming would "remind future generations that for more than half of our journey as a united nation, Elizabeth the Second has been our monarch."

The royal couple arrived in New Zealand late on Saturday on the last leg of their tour marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and were met at a military air base in Auckland by Prime Minister John Key.

They will formally begin their six-day visit with a traditional Maori welcome today at the Auckland War Memorial Museum where they will also commemorate Armistice Day.

They will then travel to Wellington and tour Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop to inspect costumes and props used in The Hobbit movies before moving to Christchurch, the scene of devastating earthquakes last year that claimed 185 lives.

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