PATRICK MALLUZZO DRUG-SMUGGLING APPEAL REJECTED

BBC NEWS

A British backpacker who was jailed in India for drug-smuggling has had his appeal to overturn the conviction rejected.

Former City worker Patrick Malluzzo, of Dartford, Kent, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2006 but has always maintained his innocence. Cannabis was discovered in a bag found alongside another bag he lent to a friend while he was travelling.

Teresa Malluzzo, Mr Malluzzo's mother, said: "For years we have prayed that our son would finally receive justice in the Indian courts and be allowed to come home to us a free man.

"We are devastated by today's decision and need some time to gather our thoughts."

Jago Russell, Chief Executive of Fair Trials International, said: "Patrick has been through a horrendous ordeal since his arrest in 2004 and was convicted after a grossly unfair trial.

"We are hugely disappointed that, after forcing Patrick to wait years for an appeal, the Indian courts have failed to take the opportunity to right this miscarriage of justice."