A lawyer is set to help reunite a young mother and her nine year old son -- due to be separated by hundreds of miles for the next decade.

Mark Pettingill has been moved to help his client, who was jailed for ten years on Wednesday for her part in smuggling cocaine into Bermuda, after discovering the tragic circumstances of the case.

Toronto resident Toni Downing and her friend, Donnette Reid, brought over two kilos of the drug, worth $832,000, on a flight from New York, hidden in six bottles of rum.

But 33-year-old Downing claimed she was duped into taking what she thought was a free trip, and is appealing for clemency to enable her to be nearer her young son.

Mr. Pettingill mitigated for both women and is now assisting Downing in her bid to maintain contact with her boy, for whom she won a lengthy custody battle recently.

The UBP Senator said it was one of the "saddest cases'' he had come across in his time as a lawyer.

He is to see her son in Toronto this weekend, in an effort to check on his well being and to attempt to bring him over to the Island for a visit.

"If I could organise that I would do it,'' he said. "She has been through a rather fierce custody battle.

"I really feel sorry for her, I don't have any sympathy for people bringing in drugs, but she was really stupid and was duped.'' During her sentencing, Downing made an emotional plea to Chief Justice Austin Ward to consider whether she could serve all or part of her term in a prison nearer home.

"I need to maintain the bond with my child, this is already deteriorating because of the distance between us,'' she said.

"I am concerned, not for my well being, but for the well being of my child.'' Mr. Pettingill said the ultimate aim would be to have Downing moved but it was not an option at this stage.

Reid, 34, who has a three year old daughter, knew there was contraband in the bottles and, along with Downing, pleaded guilty to importing cocaine on April 23. Reid received a 12-year-prison term.

DRUGS DGS