Expat newspaper editor murdered in Hua Hin

[tuktukmike]

Really sad to hear of this, we got to know him through the death of Gordon and seen him many times since.

Always seemed a harmless sort of person without a bad word for anyone.

Condolences to his family.

Hope they find the culprit, such a waste of life.

Mike.

[HHADFan]

Really sad to hear of this, we got to know him through the death of Gordon and seen him many times since.

Always seemed a harmless sort of person without a bad word for anyone.

Condolences to his family.

Hope they find the culprit, such a waste of life.

Mike.

Word from the gf (rumor, so please take with a grain of salt or ten) is that they have found the culprit and it is a man. If true, it should be in the Thai news tomorrow. If not true, mods are welcome to delete this post. From other rumors, it sounds believable, since police (supposedly) found two sets of handprints, one small, one bigger.

This is a tragic and disturbing event and happened very close to several HHAD members. I don't think any of us want to impugn the memory of the victim. However, the gf is trying to get me to lock the door when she leaves (like she could protect me ) so we'd like to know what happened.

[m_right]

Word from the gf (rumor, so please take with a grain of salt or ten) is that it was a probable robbery because of large sum of money was involved. Not anything to do with a bar girl.

[HHADFan]

Word from the gf (rumor, so please take with a grain of salt or ten) is that it was a probable robbery because of large sum of money was involved. Not anything to do with a bar girl.

Looks like there's confirmation of that in this morning's paper. Sorry, no link yet.

[HHADFan]

Here's the link: http://www.thairath.co.th/content/region/105293

[barrys]

What an awful waste of a life.
My sincere condolences to all of Allen's family and friends.

According to the newspaper article, he was killed by a 24 year-old construction worker whose boss's house was next to the victim's.

The motive was robbery - he took a life to gain the sum of THB 2,517 and a mobile phone.

The murderer was identified through CCTV cameras and arrested after he took a minibus to go back to his home in Ayudhya.

May the perpetrator rot in hell.

And may Allen find peace wherever he is now.

[Roel]

To be precise it says 2,517 US Dollars, not Baht.
Well, the good thing is they caught him.
The guy is looking at life imprisonment, possibly even death sentence.

[Spitfire]

What I find disturbing in this incident, and it seems to be becoming more frequent in lots of areas, is the callous disregard and contempt for foreigners, even the elderly, not to mention the brazen confidence and desperation of these criminals.

So, his boss's house is next door and he visits sometime, then on the way out casually thinks "What the hell, let's knock off the foreigner's house next door." Just like that? Doesn't matter whether it was on impulse or premeditated, it's shocking that such supreme indifference was shown towards the victim and to the law of Thailand by some young criminal.

A terribly sad episode, hopefully the law will show him the same indifference that he afforded the victim.

[charlesh]

Pity the same pain could not be inflicted on the coward!

[buksida]

Tributes from across the globe have been written here: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Letters.html

They are bringing him back from Bangkok today, ceremony is likely to be in Hua Hin Temple on Friday or Saturday, will confirm shortly.

[buksida]

Details confirmed:

Hua Hin Temple (town center)
Friday 27th - 11am
Offering food for the monks.

Friday 27th - 8pm
Prayers.

Saturday 28th - 3pm to 4pm
Cremation ceremony.

All those who wish to pay their respects are welcome to attend.

[buksida]

Slight change: Offering food for the monks will be Saturday morning at 11am instead of Friday.

All else remains the same.

[buksida]

An update to this:

Prachuab Khiri Khan Court on 9 August 2011 reported that the offender, Mr Ake-pot Kaewpeng, did not lodge an appeal prior to the extended deadline of 5 August 2011 and consequently this case is now considered finalised by the court.

The offender was found guilty to all charges: Murder, Theft at night and Theft with an act of violence. He was initially sentenced to the Death Penalty but the sentence was reduced by the court to Life Imprisonment taking account his acceptance of the charges. He was arrested on 21 August 2010 and is currently still remanded in Prachub Kirikarn Prison.

[HHADFan]

Thanks for posting this, Buksi.

[Korkenzieher]

Is it established then that the motive was theft, and theft alone?