Australia's Corby faces life

Ms Corby's case has been closely followed in Australia

An Australian beauty therapist accused of smuggling drugs into Indonesia faces life in prison after prosecutors said they would not ask for a death penalty.

Schapelle Corby, 27, is charged with carrying 4.1kg (9lb) of marijuana into the Indonesian island of Bali in 2004.

Prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu said the case against her was "convincing", and that her actions could harm Bali's image as a tourist resort.

Ms Corby says she is not guilty, in a case which has gripped Australia.

Her lawyers argue that the drugs were put in Ms Corby's bag after she checked it in at Brisbane Airport and then boarded a flight to Bali.

The three judges in the trial, which is taking place in the island's main town of Denpasar, are not expected to hand down their verdict for several weeks.

One of the judges said on Thursday that he would not be influenced by the arrest this week of nine other Australians in connection with heroin trafficking charges.

Chief Judge Linton Siriat said he and his fellow judges would consider Ms Corby's case on its own merits.

Before being led away from the court, Ms Corby wept as she embraced her sister.