Karm Gilespie, a former Australian actor best known for a minor role in Blue Heelersduring the 1990s, is at risk of execution in China if his final appeal against a drug trafficking conviction is denied.
The 61-year-old, originally from Ballarat, was arrested in 2013 at Guangzhou’s Baiyun Airport after customs officials found 7.5 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in his luggage. Since then, he has been held in a detention cell in southern China.
Gilespie has consistently maintained his innocence, but in June 2020, he was sentenced to death by the Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court—the first public revelation of his case. His trial shed light on China’s strict anti-narcotics laws, which carry severe penalties, including capital punishment.
Following his conviction, Gilespie promptly appealed to the Guangzhou Higher People’s Court. However, more than five years later, a decision remains pending. According to the Herald Sun, failure to overturn the ruling could lead to his immediate execution.
Chinese criminal lawyer Jin Ling explained to the publication that death sentences are seldom reversed. She suggested the prolonged delay might stem from disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, though it’s also possible the court is still deliberating.
“After an appeal, death penalty cases undergo an additional review by the Supreme People’s Court, which conducts a meticulous approval process,” Ling said. “Judges handle such cases with extreme caution, particularly when foreign nationals are involved—and the outcome rarely changes.”
