A childhood friend of Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran has broken down in tears while reading an emotional statement from the death-row inmate on ABC's Q&A program.
Kavita Krishnan told audience and panel members on last night's program that she had known Sukumaran since she was 16 years old and intended to read a statement on his behalf.
"I acknowledge more than anyone that I've made mistakes and that I'm not a perfect person, but I've learned a lot in prison and I am grateful to the Indonesian justice system and to the prison guards for allowing [me] to achieve all that I have for myself and for the other prisoners," Ms Krishnan said, reading from the statement.
"Andrew [Chan] and I are not the same people we were 10 years ago. But who is, really?
"We did commit a serious crime and deserve punishment, but we have also paid a great deal for our crimes, as have our families. Please allow us to stay in prison and live."
At this point in the statement Ms Krishnan was overcome with emotion and struggled to speak.
"I acknowledge more than anyone that I've made mistakes and that I'm not a perfect person"
A friend sitting next to her in the audience helped her to finish the end of the statement and read the question Ms Krishnan wanted to pose to the panel.
"Why kill the rehabilitated?," the friend asked. "Why kill the person who is a positive influence on those around them, a person who is doing good? Why kill my friend, Myu?"
Panel members resoundely condemned the death penalty, with 2GB radio host Alan Jones describing it as "barbaric."
"I find it incomprehensible that these people can't yield to pleas for clemency," Mr Jones said.
He called on the Australian government to apply pressure to Indonesian President, Joko Widodo.
"Someone has to get on the phone to this bloke, Widodo, and simply say, 'Well, you do what you like, but we gave you a billion dollars when you were hit by the [2004 Boxing Day] tsunami.'"
"Why kill the person who is a positive influence on those around them, a person who is doing good? Why kill my friend, Myu?"
Liberal MP Jamie Briggs, also on the panel, said Australia was doing all it could to save the pair but noted that Australia must respect Indonesia's legal system.
"Ultimately they are a sovereign country, and we respect our sovereignty, we have to respect theirs," he said.
Sukumaran was regarded as a ringleader in the failed plot to import heroin to Australia in 2005. He and fellow Bali Nine member Andrew Chan have been on death row since 2006 and are expected to be executed by firing squad before the end of the month.
Ms Krishnan's appearance on the program sparked a strong response on social media, with many calling for more to be done.
Watch the full question and following discussion below:
