It was reported in today's Observer newspaper (UK quality Sunday paper) that Thai police have decided to reopen the case into the rape and murder of Kirsty Jones, a 23 year old British backpacker who was strangled in her Chiang Mai guesthouse five years ago.
The Thai attorney-general has chosen a team of senior detectives to lead the new murder hunt, following claims that the earlier investigation was bungled. British officers who have been in touch with their Thai counterparts said the investigation would be "starting from scratch".
Witnesses are to be re-interviewed and their accounts re-examined after a genetic profile revealed that, contrary to earlier claims that Kirsty's killer was a foreigner, the chief suspect is a local man from a northern Thai city. The case is thought to have gained fresh impetus since it was raised by Tony Blair during a meeting with Thailand's Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, in October.
Initially, the police investigation focused on five foreigners. They were cleared by DNA tests and the inquiry closed amid allegations that police officers were involved in the incident.
The DNA profile put together by Dyfed-Powys police and Thai experts is based on skin and semen samples taken from the murder scene. Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins of the Dyfed-Powys police said "the profile is of south east Asian origin.
The Observer, Sunday 15th January 2006.
Five year old murder investigation to be reopened
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Handsome Buddha
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On my return to the UK while I was busy telling everybody what a great time I had, somebody thrust the previous days Daily Mail at me saying I should read the article on Thailand.
It was scathing to say the least. It painted a picture of lager louts causing chaos, mass prostitution, drugs, and beaches littered with all sorts. Sadly, it portrayed the Thai people as being only interested in the tourist dollar.(Or pound in my case.)
In my experience this isn't really fair. Perhaps I was spoilt by Hua Hin, & maybe this is the case in some of the more commercialised resorts, but I found the beach to be clean, I only saw one minor scuffle(OK it did appear to be some Brits) the bar girls were around, but I wouldn't describe it as seedy, & most of all the Thai's were friendly & I never felt like anybody was trying to rip me off.
It seems like the authorities need to sort out the problems with police corruption, otherwise the press will do their best to ruin the tourist industry. But wherever you go, the police always seem to be willing to turn a blind eye when a tourist turns up to report a crime. I hace visited Spain many times, & I would hate to see HH turn into the Costa Del Sol.
It was scathing to say the least. It painted a picture of lager louts causing chaos, mass prostitution, drugs, and beaches littered with all sorts. Sadly, it portrayed the Thai people as being only interested in the tourist dollar.(Or pound in my case.)
In my experience this isn't really fair. Perhaps I was spoilt by Hua Hin, & maybe this is the case in some of the more commercialised resorts, but I found the beach to be clean, I only saw one minor scuffle(OK it did appear to be some Brits) the bar girls were around, but I wouldn't describe it as seedy, & most of all the Thai's were friendly & I never felt like anybody was trying to rip me off.
It seems like the authorities need to sort out the problems with police corruption, otherwise the press will do their best to ruin the tourist industry. But wherever you go, the police always seem to be willing to turn a blind eye when a tourist turns up to report a crime. I hace visited Spain many times, & I would hate to see HH turn into the Costa Del Sol.
2 questions i have regarding this thread and recent events , if the " asia origin " person is found , will they face same sentence these 2 guys from Samui will , and last year i recall ,is the Policemen in Thailand who killed 2 Farangs and admitted the crime ( eventually ! ) still in jail ? mm he must have a few dollars under the matress !
The fact that the DNA profile revealed the suspect to be of SE Asian origin (apparently from one of the Hill Tribes) was reported in 2002. From what I can recall a hill-tribe man was indeed arrested, held in custody, confessed to the crime and charged before finally being released some time afterwards. It seemed that he was being framed.
i think the press are having a field day at the moment at thailands expence
this is all negative for the country
i personaly think the media was here for the tsunami aniversary not to miss the chance of a story they all picked up on the horton case
now being a popular story line this is snowballing into an avolanch maybe they have exahsted the cost del crime storys. and now turning to another popular tourist destination
the power of the media is immense they are like pack animals and wont let go until there pray has drawn its last breath
who do these saveges benefit other than there own pockets
dont get me wrong if a crime is commited then yes the criminals should be punished
the fact that scapegoats are created is to satisfy these preditors
cheers
jambo
this is all negative for the country
i personaly think the media was here for the tsunami aniversary not to miss the chance of a story they all picked up on the horton case
now being a popular story line this is snowballing into an avolanch maybe they have exahsted the cost del crime storys. and now turning to another popular tourist destination
the power of the media is immense they are like pack animals and wont let go until there pray has drawn its last breath
who do these saveges benefit other than there own pockets
dont get me wrong if a crime is commited then yes the criminals should be punished
the fact that scapegoats are created is to satisfy these preditors
cheers
jambo
The Observer in the UK also ran a 3 page spread on Samui, it started with some generalisations (the scene is worse than Patpong etc.) but then interviewed tourists, islanders, an ex-pat (2 years) and a Thai businessman.
The general feeling seemed to be it was out of control there, development, turf wars etc, mountain people working and living in squaler, perceptions on western women.
It talked of government and Police corruption, how bad crime has become in Samui, the rape of a British women and the 12 year old Swedish girl.
It gave figures on the value of toursim as a whole to Thailand (smaller than I imagined), the % linked to sex toursim (the value is 5th in the area seemingly, I guess the others include the phillipines and Taiwan?), how this and other events were being portrayed and the fear the Thais have on the impact on tourism.
Interestingly, the issue of respecting Thai culture was raised, just about the only time I've seen that - and interesting in light of the other thread on HHAD about going topless. Particular mention was made of topless western women on beaches etc.
Overall, it seemed quite a balanced article.
The general feeling seemed to be it was out of control there, development, turf wars etc, mountain people working and living in squaler, perceptions on western women.
It talked of government and Police corruption, how bad crime has become in Samui, the rape of a British women and the 12 year old Swedish girl.
It gave figures on the value of toursim as a whole to Thailand (smaller than I imagined), the % linked to sex toursim (the value is 5th in the area seemingly, I guess the others include the phillipines and Taiwan?), how this and other events were being portrayed and the fear the Thais have on the impact on tourism.
Interestingly, the issue of respecting Thai culture was raised, just about the only time I've seen that - and interesting in light of the other thread on HHAD about going topless. Particular mention was made of topless western women on beaches etc.
Overall, it seemed quite a balanced article.
Talk is cheap
I suspect that there is a link between the Samui murder and the re-opening of the Chaing Mai killing. i.e. the first has raised the profile of the second to the point that it can no longer continue to be ignored.
I also suspect that the chances of the policeman, jailed for the killing of the two tourists in Kanchanaburi, receiving an early parole for good behaviour, is receding into the distance, at least for as long as crime in Thailand, is making news.
I also suspect that the chances of the policeman, jailed for the killing of the two tourists in Kanchanaburi, receiving an early parole for good behaviour, is receding into the distance, at least for as long as crime in Thailand, is making news.