Who is Karm Gilespie? Blue Heelers star at risk of execution after drug smuggling conviction in China

Karm Gilespie is an Australian actor who gained fame in the 1990s, when he featured on a TV show called Blue Heelers. His acting career was brief and he soon left the entertainment world. His name hit world headlines several years later due to a different reason.

In 2013, Gilespie was arrested in China after the police discovered drugs in his luggage. Later he was found guilty of drug smuggling and sentenced to death. His case has attracted the attention of both the Australian and the Chinese government and it has brought concerns regarding the use of the death penalty.

As of October 2025, Gilespie is still on death row in China. He is awaiting a decision on his appeal and his future will only be known when his sentence is either struck down or affirmed by the Chinese judicial system.

Karm Gilespie's arrest and conviction in China

According to BBC News, Karm Gilespie was arrested in Guangzhou, Baiyun Airport, China in December 2013. The government reported that they discovered 7.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in his luggage. The Chinese officials accused him of drug trafficking, which is a serious crime punishable by the death penalty as per Chinese laws.

Gilespie insisted that he was innocent and that he did not know that the drugs were in his possession. In June 2020, he was convicted and sentenced to death by the Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court in spite of his assertions. Gilespie has appealed the conviction, although the result has not been released publicly.

After his arrest, Gilespie has been imprisoned in Guangzhou prison. He is among a number of foreigners that are sentenced to death in China due to drug peddling. It is reported that in case his appeal is not successful, he might be either sentenced to death by lethal injection or firing squad.

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Diplomatic reactions and ongoing uncertainty

According to Nightly, on October 7, 2025, the Australian government has been very concerned about the death sentence handed to Karm Gilespie. Spokespersons of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) have confirmed that they are offering consular help to him and his family. In Australia, the opposition to the death penalty has also been reiterated.

The case has strained the relations between China and Australia. Ex-Prime minister, Scott Morrison, added that Australia kept on bringing up the matter with the Chinese authorities and that it did not intend to interfere with the Chinese legal system. He further added that the government would remain in support of Gilespie via the formal avenues.

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Karm Gilespie is still appealing to a court of law. It is reported that his destiny lies on the ultimate ruling of the Chinese courts. Unless his sentence is reversed in the meantime he might be immediately executed.

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