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Woman accused of murdering friend with cyanide laced iced coffee may face death penalty

An Australian resident accused of murdering her friend by poisoning her iced coffee with cyanide, may face the death penalty.

Jessica Wongso is set to face trial in Indonesia following the death of Mirna Salihin, 27.

Ms Salihin died after drinking a coffee, which police claimed, was laced with cyanide on January 6.

Mirna Salihin died in January after she reportedly drank iced coffee laced with cyanide.
Mirna Salihin died in January after she reportedly drank iced coffee laced with cyanide.

She began foaming at the mouth after taking one sip of ‘Vietnamese Coffee’ at Olivier Grant Café and died on her way to hospital.

Murder is a capital crime in Indonesia.

A Central Jakarta District Court has said there is no binding agreement preventing Ms Wongso being given a death sentence despite Justice Minister Michael Keenan stating previously that he had promised she would not be sentenced to death.

District Court Judge and court spokesman Jamaluddin Samosir told ABC News that no such deal was possible in the Indonesian judicial system.

Jessica Wongso is accused of murdering her friend by lacing an iced coffee with cyanide. Photo: AAP
Jessica Wongso is accused of murdering her friend by lacing an iced coffee with cyanide. Photo: AAP

“The judges can decide any penalty they want. We are independent, there can be no intervention.”

A spokesperson for Mr Keenan’s office told ABC News that the Indonesian government had assured the Australian government in writing that the death penalty will not be sought.

The café has since become infamous for the Vietnamese Iced Coffee.

Business at the restaurant has reportedly boomed, with diners waiting hours for a table.

Many have taken photographs of their visits to share on tourism websites and social media.

‘Coffee without cyanide’: one diner posted along with a photo of the now infamous coffee.

Ms Wongso reportedly ordered Ms Salihin the drink, after she arrived an hour before her.

Mirna had recently married her husband Arief Soemarko.
Mirna had recently married her husband Arief Soemarko.

CCTV captured her handling the drink before her friend arrived, local media reports.

Ms Wongso studied with Ms Salihin at the Billy Blue College of Design in Sydney and Swinburne University of Technology.

The pair graduated in 2008 and Ms Wongso remained in Sydney to work.

She returned to Indonesia some time later, but local police claimed the friends had grown apart.

Before her death, Ms Salihin, had married Arief Soemarko.

Ms Wongso did not attend the wedding and it’s alleged she was driven to murder by ‘revenge and jealousy’.

Ms Wongso has denied killing her friend and since vowed to clear her name.

Jessica Wongso (L) is accused of murdering her friend Mirna Salihin (R)
Jessica Wongso (L) is accused of murdering her friend Mirna Salihin (R)