Susan Dale Austen appears in court facing charges relating to … – Stuff.co.nz

Last updated12:05, February 24 2017

TOM HUNT/Stuff.co.nz

Supporters of Susan Austen, facing charges related to importing a euthanasia drug, gather in support outside Wellington District Court.

Supporters ofExit Wellington co-ordinator Susan Dale Austen, 65, filled a Wellington District Courtroom when she appeared on Friday morning.

Austen faces one charge of importing the narcotic sedative pentobarbitone known as Nembutal between March 2012 and October 2016, and one of importing on September 30.

Austen was remanded on bail for a month after police asked for a postponement till March 24.

ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ

Placards were waved in support.

Judge Stephen Harrop endorsed the comments made by Austen's lawyer, Donald Steven, QC, that publishing photographs of Austen could breach her fair trial rights.

READ MORE: * Many questions, few answers *Charges laid over importing euthanasia drug *Police admit using checkpoint to target euthanasia meeting attendees *We know where you've been, police tell 76-year-old who attended euthanasia meeting *Police door-knock elderly women who attended euthanasia meeting

Nembutal is a drug commonly used for Euthanasia, and Exit Wellington is a pro-euthanasia group.

ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ

Supporters of Susan Austen outside Wellington District Court on Friday.

The euthanasia debate has been in the headlines after police admitted that they used a checkpoint operation to identify people who had been to an Exit Wellingtonmeeting in early October.

The matter has beenreferred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

About 40 supporters of Austen's, some with placards, gathered outside court to support her as she arrived on Friday with her husband and lawyer.

"A peaceful death is everyone's right, which is really all it is about," supporter Jan Rosie said outside court.

Voluntary Euthanasia Society - which is fighting to change New Zealand euthanasia laws - spokesman David Barber said two-thirds of New Zealand supported"end of life choice" but politicians were unwilling to touch it.

While most of the supporters outside court were middle-aged-or-older women, there were a few men and younger peopleamong the supporters.

"Young people will be facing the issue at some time," Barber said.

Austen arrived at court with family and lawyers appearing relaxed.

She emerged afterwards and thankedand joked with the supporters but her lawyers said she would not comment publicly.

-Stuff

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Susan Dale Austen appears in court facing charges relating to ... - Stuff.co.nz