Ellis trial to hear sentence request
AAP
May 7, 2015, 7:55 am
An Indonesian woman accused of ordering the murder of her wealthy Australian husband is due to learn whether she will face the death penalty.
Noor Ellis told her trial in Bali last week that she approached five men to teach her husband, Robert Ellis, a lesson, but "not to hurt or bruise" him.
It was a different account to that she gave weeks earlier; when asked who gave the order to have Mr Ellis murdered, she replied: "Probably me."
Mr Ellis, 60, was set upon by the men in the kitchen of his Sanur villa in October last year, his throat slashed, and his body dumped in a field.
His wife of 25 years, also known as Julaikah Noor Aini, is set to find out on Thursday whether the prosecution will seek the death sentence for premeditated murder.
In court last week, Judge Beslin Sihombing scolded her for crying while explaining why she resorted to violence to solve her marital problems.
"I wanted a divorce, but he didn't want it," she said sobbing.
"It's been 11 years that I haven't been treated as a wife."
The judge said: "There's no need for the crying."
Ellis also admitted that their two sons were furious with her, despite her defence two weeks ago presenting a statement purportedly from her elder son John asking that she be given a lenient sentence.
The 23-year-old says the statement was forged and should be removed from the trial.
Prosecutor Dipa Umbara told AAP they would base their Thursday sentence request more on the evidence given at trial rather than the statement.
"That testimony will not affect much because we're basing it on the trial facts," he said.
