[imagesource:  Facebook / The Cocoon]

South African Ashley Oosthuizen’s story hit the headlines back in February following a concerted effort by her parents to raise awareness regarding her situation.

She is currently looking at life behind bars after her death sentence was commuted in August last year. Ashley was convicted of international drug trafficking, but her family and friends maintain that she is innocent.

They say she was tricked by her then-boyfriend, American Tristan Nettles, who she met while working as a kindergarten teacher on the island of Koh Samui.

The last update on the case from early March revealed that Ashley is eligible to be considered for a royal pardon, but it’s unclear how likely that might be in this case.

Now, for the first time, Nettles is appearing on camera and giving his version of events.

This via Carte Blanche:

Ashley Ootshuizen was a 21-year-old on the adventure of a lifetime. Tristan Nettles was the self-proclaimed, womanising drug dealer coining it on the dark web in Thailand – a country notoriously tough on drug smuggling.

Their toxic love affair exposed young Ashley to a police raid where she was caught in possession of a drugs package addressed to Tristan’s business partner. Having recently celebrated her 23rd birthday behind bars, she faces at least a further excruciating 48 years in Thailand’s infamous prison system.

As Oosthuizen’s legal team submits a pardon plea to His Majesty King Rama X, Carte Blanche asks Nettles whether he has any remorse.

My 10 cents is that Nettles doesn’t do himself any favours here, but you can watch and make your own judgement:

[source:carteblanche]