Cassie Sainsbury’s bizarre behaviour during a tell-all TV interview appeared to be a deliberate effort to hide her alleged involvement in an international drug syndicate, an expert has claimed.
Sainsbury, who is awaiting trial over 5.9kg of cocaine allegedly found inside her suitcase at a Colombian airport, sparked a social media firestorm after her 60 Minutes interview aired on Sunday night.
Constantly scratching her head, touching her neck and smiling nervously, Sainsbury told the program she accepted a job as a legitimate courier before her arrest.
The 22-year-old also claimed she can’t remember the code to unlock her mobile phone, which she said contains evidence that could potentially clear her name.
But body language expert Michael Kelly said Sainsbury’s constant movements throughout the interview suggested dishonesty.
Cassie Sainsbury’s bizarre behaviour during a tell-all TV interview appeared to be a deliberate effort to hide her alleged involvement in an international drug syndicate, an expert has said
Constantly scratching her head, touching her neck and smiling nervously, Sainsbury told 60 Minutes she accepted a job as a legitimate courier before her arrest
‘When you’re touching your neck, scratching your head, it’s like you’re trying to hide the truth,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘If people are telling the truth, they don’t usually move their hands about. It’s almost like she’s trying to distract the listener from what she’s saying.’
As the interview progressed, Sainsbury appeared to develop a rash on her neck and chest.
‘When people under stress feel uncomfortable with themselves and what’s happening, blood will go to the surface,’ Mr Kelly explained.
‘It’s embarrassment.’
‘When you’re touching your neck, scratching your head, it’s like you’re trying to hide the truth,’ a body language expert told Daily Mail Australia
Sainsbury also claimed she can’t remember the code to unlock her mobile phone, which she said contains evidence that could potentially clear her name
Body language expert Michael Kelly said Sainsbury’s constant movements throughout the interview suggested dishonesty
During the interview, Sainsbury claimed a drug ring sent her texts saying her loved ones would be killed if she failed to obey their orders.
She claimed she has forgotten the code to her phone during her five months behind bars.
‘It’s very true. I haven’t used it for nearly six months, I’m not going to remember a pattern,’ she said.
Mr Kelly said: ‘She is trying to explain why she forgot – justifying it. If you have forgotten, all you need to say is ”I’ve forgotten it”.
‘She’s providing justification – you don’t need to do that if you’re telling the truth.’
As the interview progressed, Sainsbury appeared to develop a rash on her neck and chest
Hundreds on social media slammed the accused smuggler and said her story was ‘hard to believe’
Mr Kelly said it appears the 22-year-old is yet to come to terms with the seriousness of her situation.
‘It seems to me it’s surreal to her. She’s almost enjoying the limelight in the face of 20 years in prison,’ he said.
‘The head tilt with her eyes up seems very wistful – I would say that aligns with her enjoying the limelight to a degree.
‘It’s almost like she doesn’t realise the seriousness of it. She’s playful in odd way.’
Hundreds on social media slammed the accused smuggler and said her story was ‘hard to believe.’
‘Bizarre body language from Cassie Sainsbury,’ one viewer wrote, while another said: ‘Sainsbury is a really hilariously bad liar’.
The 22-year-old was dubbed ‘Cocaine Cassie’ after narcotics police alleged they had found 5.9 kilograms of the drug in her luggage in April this year
Another on social media following the interview said: ‘Sorry Cassie – I’m not buying what you are selling
During the interview, Sainsbury denied reports that she worked as a sex worker at a brothel in Sydney, instead claiming she was a fly-in fly-out receptionist.
‘I’m not a prostitute. There was some work but it wasn’t prostitution. I know it’s a brothel but that doesn’t necessarily make me a prostitute,’ Sainsbury said.
She said the establishment, Club 220 in Penrith, were ‘struggling’ to find people to work behind the desk and were happy to have her fly in and out of the state.
She suggested there are ‘links’ between the brothel and her arrest, but refused to comment on whether it was someone from the brothel where she worked.
Images of Sainsbury smiling and appearing calm as she is arrested by customs staff at Bogota Airport led people to believe she did not understand the gravity of her situation, something she denies.
Sainsbury is pictured arriving for a court hearing in Bogota, Colombia on July 26, 2017
During the interview, Sainsbury denied reports that she worked as a sex worker at a brothel in Sydney, instead claiming she was a fly-in fly-out receptionist
‘I was extremely worried. When I was first arrested it didn’t hit me. It hit me when I got back to the police station, it was like hitting a brick wall,’ she said.
The 22-year-old was dubbed ‘Cocaine Cassie’ after narcotics police alleged they had found 5.9 kilograms of the drug in her luggage in April this year.
She now faces a maximum of 30 years behind bars, and her indictment hearing has been scheduled for September 26.