Aussie Sara Connor and boyfriend David Taylor get set to go on Bali trial

ON the eve of the trial into the bashing death of Bali cop Wayan Sudarsa, Aussie Sara Connor said she wants to meet the police officer’s family and offer assistance.

Byron Bay woman Sara Connor pictured inside Kerobokan Jail with her boyfriend David Taylor. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

LAWYERS for Australian woman Sara Connor and her British boyfriend David Taylor have visited the couple inside Bali’s Kerobokan prison on the eve of their murder trial which gets underway in Bali tomorrow.

Connor has told her lawyers that she wants to meet the family of slain police officer Wayan Sudarsa to convey her deep sympathy and to offer them any assistance she can give.

Robert Khuana, who is one of the team representing the Byron Bay businesswoman and mum, visited her in Bali’s Kerobokan prison this afternoon, ahead of tomorrow’s murder trial.

Sara Connor's Australian barrister Peter Strain arrives at Kerobokan Jail in Denpasar. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

“She wants to express her sympathy to the family and if it’s possible, if there is assistance that she can give she will give assistance,” Mr Khuana said.

He said the legal team had tried but not yet connected with officer Sudarsa’s family.

And Connor’s defence said they hoped that her boyfriend and co-accused Taylor would tell the truth in the trial about his role in the August 17 death.

“He is the key witness for Sara,” Mr Khuana said.

Jail staff check a pizza brought by Sara's friend Ambra Bertoldi during a visit to Kerobokan Jail in Denpasar. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

He said the fact that prosecutors had laid three separate charges against Connor was not fair because the alleged facts of two charges were exactly the same.

Connor’s Australian barrister Peter Strain also arrived to visit with her two Indonesian lawyers. And her friend, Ambra Bertoldi, from Byron Bay, brought two pizzas which jail security insisted on checking before allowing them inside.

Taylor told his lawyers he hopes that one day the family of slain police officer Sudarsa can forgive him.

Earlier Taylor’s lawyers spent several hours inside with their client and emerged to say that he was ready for the trial and understood why the victim’s family could never forgive him but hopes one day they will.

Sara Connor's lawyer, Haposan Sihombing, right, and his team visit her in Kerobokan Prison in Bali. Picture: Lukman S. Binrtoro

Taylor recently wrote a letter to the family of the slain police officer, telling them of his remorse and of how the night of the death would haunt him for the rest of his days. But the victim’s widow, Ketut Arsini, told News Corporation she could never forgive Taylor and Connor for what happened to her husband of 31 years.

Throughout the investigation, Connor has maintained she played no part in the fight which ended the officer’s life, and insists she was trying to break it up.

“Related with this case, he (David) said that he is very regretful for what already happened, which he never imagined could happen, and has caused the death of victim,” his lawyer Haposan Sihombing said after visiting his client.

“He is ready for the trial,” he said, adding that Taylor was ready to accept the court’s verdict.

Mr Sihombing said his client had no intention to kill the victim on the fateful night and they would argue there was not enough evidence to sustain the murder charge against his client.

Putu Nita (L), her husband Ketut Lantara (R) and their son Wayan Navarang (C) in Kubu Kauh homestay in Kuta where alleged murderer, David Taylor, was staying. Picture: Lukman S. Bintoro

“At the beginning, he didn’t realise that the victim died. Because they were only involved in a fight and each of them must defend themselves.

“Related with this case, he said that he is very regretful for what already happened, which he was never imagined could happen, and has caused the death of victim.”

Another of Taylor’s lawyers, Elysabeth Rajagukguk, said the case would hinge around whether there was an intention to kill the police officer that night.

“There is no intention to kill. But they are involved in a fight. When we are in a fight, of course, each of them try to defend themselves.

So, this is about a fight and defending himself,” Ms RAjagukguk said.

“David is a little bit worried for tomorrow because this is a first time experience for David. But we always support him. Generally, David is in a good condition,” she said.

Connor and Taylor go on trial in the Denpasar District Court tomorrow on three charges each of murder, violence causing death and assault causing death. The murder charge carries a maximum 15 years in jail.

The couple faces separate trials and each will be called upon to testify as a witness in the trial of the other.

Originally published as Aussie Sara Connor and boyfriend David Taylor get set to go on Bali trial