Perth man Dominic Bird is facing the death penalty in Malaysia if convicted of a serious drug charge. Source: PerthNow
PERTH man Dominic Bird remains in good spirits despite facing a mandatory death sentence if convicted by a Malaysian court on drugs charges.
The 32-year-old appeared in the Kuala Lumpur High Court today for the first day of what is likely to be a lengthy legal process.
Bird has pleaded not guilty to two charges, the most serious of which relates to drug dealing and carries a mandatory death sentence.
He has also been charged with drug use.
Bird was arrested in a police sting on March 1 at Old Town White Coffee, a cafe on Jalan Dang Wangi in central Kuala Lumpur.
It's alleged he offered to sell undercover police 167 grams of methamphetamine.
The drugs Bird had allegedly been carrying in a Mr Potato chips container were presented to the court today.
Handcuffed and dressed in a black pinstripe suit and wearing a white and grey-striped tie, Bird was accompanied in court by his father and sister, as well as a number of close friends, who sat huddled behind him.
Earlier, before the trial began and during an adjournment, they chatted with an apparently upbeat Bird, who smiled at times and shared an occasional joke.
Despite the prospect of a death sentence hanging over him, Bird appeared to be in good spirits.
The prosecution will call eight witnesses, and is expected to complete its case by Friday.
Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told AAP that it was highly likely a verdict would not be delivered until next year.
Mr Gharib has vowed to appeal if Bird is acquitted.
He said he expected Bird's legal team would also appeal if he is convicted, ensuring a lengthy legal process.
The appeals process would mean that it would be 2014 at the earliest before Bird learns his fate.
The trial has been adjourned until tomorrow.
Malaysia has executed three Australians for drug offences.
Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers were arrested in 1983 at the airport on the Malaysian resort island of Penang and charged with drug trafficking after they were caught with 141.9 grams of heroin.
They were hanged in July 1986 in Kuala Lumpur's notorious Pudu jail.
Another Australian man, Michael McAuliffe, was executed in June 1993.
However, recent history suggests Malaysia has moderated its use of the death penalty.
Out of the more than 100 people given death sentences in 2010, it's understood that only one person has been executed.
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