I have only recently become aware of this situation. I am a criminal lawyer practicing in London and every day in court I argue on behalf of people who have committed violent crimes, crimes of calculated dishonesty and drugs-crimes. My firm deals with all sorts of crime from murder, rape and serious fraud to petty shop-lifting and possession of cannabis and everything in-between.

I have never at any time heard of a sentence of this scale for anything other than the most calculated and severe cases of violence.

Every day I argue, often successfully, that people should not receive prison sentences for offences far worse than these.

I can't really comment on the evidence, or the legal process as I simply don't know enough to form any sort of view as to whether Chantal should have been convicted of an offence. However, it is extremely clear that the sentence is appalling and unjustifiable. Had I been representing Chantal in a UK court I would have been advising her that she was likely to receive a community penalty or possibly a short, sharp custodial sentence.

I am intending to read more of the legal information on the website and then I will be writing to either Tony Blair, or the US authorities, adding my comments to all those already sent.

In the meantime, I wish Chantal all the best, and would say to her that I am sure that this terrible situation will come to an end in the near future, as it is clearly unsustainable in a modern democracy.

Best wishes
Anne Corlett, Solicitor