Product Description

The shocking true story of an Innocent Man jailed for over eleven years for a crime that he did not commit in Indonesian's most notorious Prisons.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32494 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04-24
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

The Daily Mail, Annabel Venning, April 18, 2003
Stories of excrement throwing, stabbings and corruption abound in this book. Which will remind many of the film "Midnight Express"

Lowestoft Journal, Bob Proctor, May 2003
From his failed escapes to his part in leading a prison riot. It is compelling stuff. Its an excellent read.

Synopsis
"Hell's Prisoner" is the story of an innocent man's 11 years in Indonesia's most notorious prisons. Christopher Parnell was on holiday with his family in Bali when the unthinkable happened. His holiday complex was raided and police claimed to have uncovered 12.5kg of hashish. Parnell and a travelling companion were immediately arrested. His companion was later released and left Bali as soon as the charges against him were dropped. While Parnell awaited trial, his friend signed a statutory declaration to say that the drugs had belonged to him. He admitted he had been afraid to face Indonesian justice but believed the mix up would be rectified and Parnell released. Instead, Parnell was sentenced to the death penalty. That sentence was later reduced to 20 years and a fine of US$30,000. Over the next 11 years, Parnell was subjected to unthinkable sessions of torture. Left to starve and fight every day for his survival, Parnell became a man forced to eat everything from cockroaches to human flesh. Prepare yourself for a journey into a world where murder, torture and fights to the death are day-to-day occurrences - where the guards turn a blind eye to the lethal weapons prisoners carry.

Customer Reviews

a little far fetched
Starts off OK, but turns into something of a Hollywood Movie, with Russel being the so called Hero of the prison, Complete Rubbish. The photos are also a little confusing, one photo which has been included was taken 11 days after he was stabbed, then one 6 weeks after he was stabbed, Correct me if I'm wrong but you couldnt grow that much hair in 6 months, let alone 6 weeks. Apart from that he goes on about the disgusting things he did to other prisoners out of sheer boredom, which doesnt do him any justice and makes him appear to have the mentality of a 10 year old. He doesnt really delcare his so called innocence either and doesnt even bother to appeal the sentence, which again makes no sense. Instead of focusing on the immature antics he got up to he could have given his fellow prisoners some credit and written about their suffering, instead of being so self absorbed in his own fairy tale.

I've read many books like this one and this is far by the worst, if you want a brilliant read, a book you can't put down and written by someone who tells it how it is and isnt trying to make himself look like Superman and isnt asking for sympathy, then read 'The Damage Done, by Warren Fellow' Brilliant! He was guilty and admits his wrong doing! Now thats a Hero.

not entierely innocent!!
Even though this book was a good read, it was always in the back of my mind that there is no smoke without fire and he was probably as guilty as hell.
I found it a bit difficult to feel sorry for him especially when he goes on the rampage with the other convicts.
I think he should have got a better lawyer!

Laughter and misery
This book made it into my Top Ten-list, which makes it one of the best books I have ever read. I compare this with Bukowski's Ham on Rye with the simple English and the tough humour. The violence and brutality in this book is horrific, but the author has chosen to focus on a light and entertaining way of writing, which is a little strange because of his extreme suffering. He makes waking up with a knife in your eye seem an interesting experience! Either the author is pretending to be tough, or he is one of the most remarkable human beings on this planet. The chapter where he is pretending to be insane, is the most hilarious pages I have read since Ambjørnsen's books about Elling. This would be a perfect book for boys in school to read. It is a book that demonstrates all the benefits of reading. The world might seem different after reading such a powerful book. I loved it!