Sentence request in Ellis trial postponed

A woman accused of orchestrating the murder of her wealthy Australian husband in Bali has to wait to learn whether she will face the death penalty.

Bob Ellis and his wife Noor

Murder-accused Noor Ellis is due to learn whether she'll face the death penalty. (AAP) Source: Facebook

An Indonesian woman accused of ordering the murder of her wealthy Australian husband will learn next week whether she will face the death penalty.

Prosecutors were due to give their sentencing request to court on Thursday, but the hearing has been postponed to next week.

Noor Ellis told her trial in Bali last week that she did approach 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 and 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.

In court last week, Judge Beslin Sihombing scolded Ellis, also known as Julaikah Noor Aini, 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, who was married to the Australian for 25 years, also admitted 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 sentencing request 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.


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Source: AAP


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