Karm Gilespie, a 61-year-old former Australian television actor, remains on death row in China twelve years after his arrest in December 2013 at Guangzhou’s Baiyun Airport. Authorities found 7.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in his luggage during a routine check.
Gilespie maintained that he was unaware of the drugs, but in June 2020, the Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court convicted him of drug trafficking and sentenced him to death. He filed an appeal shortly after the verdict, with no outcome made public as of October 2025.
A Career Halted and Years in Detention
Gilespie appeared in three episodes of the 1990s police drama Blue Heelers, which drew more than 2.5 million viewers weekly at its peak. His television work also included minor roles in The Man From Snowy River and Janus, though his acting career ended within a few years. He transitioned to property investment, motivational speaking, and financial planning, known among financial self-help circles.
In late 2013, Gilespie disappeared suddenly. Friends and family tried for two years to locate him, unaware that Chinese authorities had detained him. Prior to his disappearance, he had told friend Jill Parris about plans for a business trip to Thailand and a new relationship. His arrest remained undisclosed, leaving his network without answers during his first years in custody.
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Legal Review and Possible Execution
Cases involving foreign citizens under the death penalty in China go through a special Supreme People’s Court review. Lawyer Jin Ling has explained that such reviews rarely change the original sentence. She noted the COVID-19 pandemic may have delayed an outcome, but if the appeal fails, Gilespie will face immediate execution by lethal injection or firing squad.
Other Australians Facing Execution
Gilespie is one of three Australians currently awaiting execution in China. Peter Gardner, an Australian-New Zealand dual citizen, was arrested in November 2014 at Guangzhou airport with about 30 kilograms of methamphetamine. His girlfriend Kalynda Davis was also arrested but later freed without charge. Gardner received a death sentence and is reportedly in the same prison as Gilespie.
Yang Hengjun, an Australian writer and democracy activist, was detained in January 2019 in Guangzhou on espionage charges. In February 2024, he was given a suspended death sentence with the possibility of commutation to life imprisonment after two years if he displays good behaviour. Yang has sought assistance from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a medical transfer.
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Diplomatic Position and Tensions
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Gilespie and his family. The government maintains its firm opposition to capital punishment “in all circumstances for all people.”
Consular staff in Guangzhou visit Australian prisoners and relay information to DFAT but require clearance from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before releasing any details publicly.
Gilespie’s case has added to ongoing strains in Australia-China relations, which intensified in 2020 with disputes over trade and Australia’s push for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. China does not reveal execution statistics, though Amnesty International estimates thousands each year.
Dozens of foreigners have faced the death penalty for drug offences, highlighting the peril confronting those accused of trafficking. Gilespie’s fate now rests entirely on the Supreme People’s Court’s final ruling.
