Last updated12:05, February 24 2017 <\/p>\n
TOM HUNT\/Stuff.co.nz <\/p>\n
Supporters of Susan Austen, facing charges related to importing a euthanasia drug, gather in support outside Wellington District Court. <\/p>\n
Supporters ofExit Wellington co-ordinator Susan Dale Austen, 65, filled a Wellington District Courtroom when she appeared on Friday morning. <\/p>\n
Austen faces one charge of importing the narcotic sedative pentobarbitone known as Nembutal between March 2012 and October 2016, and one of importing on September 30. <\/p>\n
Austen was remanded on bail for a month after police asked for a postponement till March 24. <\/p>\n
ROSS GIBLIN\/FAIRFAX NZ <\/p>\n
Placards were waved in support. <\/p>\n
Judge Stephen Harrop endorsed the comments made by Austen's lawyer, Donald Steven, QC, that publishing photographs of Austen could breach her fair trial rights. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: * Many questions, few answers *Charges laid over importing euthanasia drug *Police admit using checkpoint to target euthanasia meeting attendees *We know where you've been, police tell 76-year-old who attended euthanasia meeting *Police door-knock elderly women who attended euthanasia meeting <\/p>\n
Nembutal is a drug commonly used for Euthanasia, and Exit Wellington is a pro-euthanasia group. <\/p>\n
ROSS GIBLIN\/FAIRFAX NZ <\/p>\n
Supporters of Susan Austen outside Wellington District Court on Friday. <\/p>\n
The euthanasia debate has been in the headlines after police admitted that they used a checkpoint operation to identify people who had been to an Exit Wellingtonmeeting in early October. <\/p>\n
The matter has beenreferred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority. <\/p>\n
About 40 supporters of Austen's, some with placards, gathered outside court to support her as she arrived on Friday with her husband and lawyer. <\/p>\n
\"A peaceful death is everyone's right, which is really all it is about,\" supporter Jan Rosie said outside court. <\/p>\n
Voluntary Euthanasia Society - which is fighting to change New Zealand euthanasia laws - spokesman David Barber said two-thirds of New Zealand supported\"end of life choice\" but politicians were unwilling to touch it. <\/p>\n
While most of the supporters outside court were middle-aged-or-older women, there were a few men and younger peopleamong the supporters. <\/p>\n
\"Young people will be facing the issue at some time,\" Barber said. <\/p>\n
Austen arrived at court with family and lawyers appearing relaxed. <\/p>\n
She emerged afterwards and thankedand joked with the supporters but her lawyers said she would not comment publicly. <\/p>\n
-Stuff <\/p>\n
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Susan Dale Austen appears in court facing charges relating to ... - Stuff.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Last updated12:05, February 24 2017 TOM HUNT\/Stuff.co.nz Supporters of Susan Austen, facing charges related to importing a euthanasia drug, gather in support outside Wellington District Court. Supporters ofExit Wellington co-ordinator Susan Dale Austen, 65, filled a Wellington District Courtroom when she appeared on Friday morning. Continue reading