Vol. 73/No. 35      September 14, 2009

Fifteen-year-old Emely Jessop was handcuffed to a warden until she was on the point of giving birth to her first baby. She was released only at the insistence of her father, who was present.

After the birth she was given the choice of being handcuffed to the shower or have a warden watch her as she showered.

In 1998 Jessop, then 14, was convicted on a charge of aggravated robbery on the basis of a confession she says was forced from her by police, and sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.

She has been waging an 11-year fight to clear her name.

Terry Coggan
Auckland, New Zealand

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