Call for donations to help Perth teen cover legal bills and 'move on' from arrest in Bali over 'white powder'
Thousands of dollars have been raised to help the Australian teen cover his legal bills and "move on" from his arrest in Bali last month over a "white powder" during Schoolies week.
Jamie Murphy was manhandled by a bouncer before cameras and faced more than a decade behind bars when a small bag containing a powdery substance was discovered at a Kuta nightclub.
The 18-year-old Perth resident denied the substance was his before being taken into police custody for blood and urine testing.
The tests came back negative, as were the results of the powder, which were found to be a mix of caffeine and over-the-counter pain medications.
Now Mr Murphy's friends have come to his aid, calling on the public to help him "move on" from the arrest that brought both shame and financial distress upon him and his family.
A GoFundMe page titled "The Price of Innocence" is asking people to chip in toward $30,000 for the "amazing young man" locked up for three days.
Bryanna Heard, a friend, suggests on the page Mr Murphy lived through "a parent's worst nightmare" that "could have happened to anyone".
"On the 22nd of November, and on only their second day in Bali Jamie's life was turned upside down," she wrote.
"Jamie returned to his hotel feeling sick, intoxicated, alone and vulnerable and was arrested for suspicion of alleged drug possession."
Ms Heard wrote the ordeal had been a huge financial burden for the Murphy family.
"This proud hardworking normal family has been left with an immense legal bill that they are unable to cover without asking for help from our incredible community," she wrote.
"Jamie does not wish to go to the media and sell his story, but instead would be immensely grateful just to be able to rid himself and his family of these debts and move on."
The page has raised nearly $8000 since it was set up on December 4, from a total 67 of people.
