OUR CHILD IS INNOCENT
YOU South Africa|3 March 2022
The family and a friend of a young SA woman imprisoned in a Thai jail on drugs charges speak to YOU
JANA VAN DER MERWE
OUR CHILD IS INNOCENT

IT WAS meant to be the adventure of a lifetime – travelling to an exotic country, living and working there and meeting new and interesting people. Ashley Oosthuizen, who’d just turned 19, had matriculated with several distinctions from Hoërskool Outeniqua in George and planned to teach English to Thai children.

Her dream came true – but after falling for an older American man she ended up being sentenced to life in prison and is now sharing a cell with more than 60 convicts.

Ashley’s world collapsed in August last year when a Thai court convicted her of drug possession and international drug trafficking after she signed for a package delivered to the coffee shop where she was working. Not for a second did Ashley (now 23) believe she’d be convicted. It was all a big misunderstanding – she had nothing to do with drugs.

“After I heard the words ‘life in prison’, my whole world went dark. Why has God forsaken me?” Ashley wrote in a letter to her mom back home in George shortly after her sentencing.

Her divorced parents, Lynn Blignaut and André Oosthuizen, and friends all say the same thing: Ashley’s problems started when she became involved with Tristan Nettles (34), a self-confessed drug dealer.

Now the family are desperately trying to prove Ashley’s innocence and get her back home. Lynn will never forget the day she heard her daughter had been arrested. Tristan had sent a WhatsApp to André, who forwarded the message to her.

She breaks down as she recalls that heartrending moment. “From the very start I thought it was all a lie. I know this man manipulated her,” she says.

Bu hikaye YOU South Africa dergisinin 3 March 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye YOU South Africa dergisinin 3 March 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

YOU SOUTH AFRICA DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST
YOU South Africa

HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST

With more and more of us struggling with our mental health, here's a common-sense guide to coping with life's ups and downs

time-read
5 dak  |
5 December 2024
SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES
YOU South Africa

SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES

John van de Ruit tells us why he decided to write a sequel - and shares how his first book helped him find enduring love

time-read
5 dak  |
5 December 2024
SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG
YOU South Africa

SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG

A Cape Town couple have been charged with using a young woman as a sex slave-but some say she lost the job she signed up for and now has a grudge against them

time-read
4 dak  |
5 December 2024
LIAM LAID TO REST
YOU South Africa

LIAM LAID TO REST

More than a month after One Direction singer LIAM PAYNE (31) tragically fell to his death from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his loved ones finally got to say their goodbyes.

time-read
1 min  |
5 December 2024
SHILOH HANGS OUT
YOU South Africa

SHILOH HANGS OUT

THE two young women look like any pair of good friends chatting and laughing as they leave their dance class in Los Angeles.

time-read
1 min  |
5 December 2024
LEO IN LOVE
YOU South Africa

LEO IN LOVE

He's just turned 50 and it seems Leonardo DiCaprio may finally be ready to settle down

time-read
3 dak  |
5 December 2024
PACKING A PUNCH
YOU South Africa

PACKING A PUNCH

Irish actor Paul Mescal beefed up for his role in the blockbuster epic Gladiator II - and fans are loving it

time-read
4 dak  |
5 December 2024
I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD
YOU South Africa

I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD

As the illegitimate daughter of the king, she fought to be recognised as part of Belgium's royal family, but Princess Delphine says she still feels unwelcome

time-read
5 dak  |
5 December 2024
'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'
YOU South Africa

'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'

A bite from a spitting cobra 13 years ago nearly killed her but Mikayla survived - and she's made peace with her scars

time-read
4 dak  |
5 December 2024
THE CLAWS ARE OUT!
YOU South Africa

THE CLAWS ARE OUT!

Things have grown frosty between the Beckhams and the Sussexes as Becks comes out in clear support of William

time-read
7 dak  |
5 December 2024