Paul Ayling attacked in Hua Hin

[dizzythumps]

I would very much appreciate it if you could stop speculating etc on what has happened and why - this is a matter for the police now to deal with. I am the eyewitness as I am Paul's wife. I find it extremely distressing as does his son of 12 years old and his family to continue reading all of these messages. If you want to ask us anything in particular I would be happy to discuss however I dont think airing your comments on a forum is the best approach in this current situation. If anyone has information which they feel will help with this investigation and I mean information as to the people who did this then I welcome the feedback otherwise please stop speculating and discussing a very difficult time in our lives as we have enough to be worrying about and dealing with

Thank you
Justine Ayling

[Takiap]

Hi Justine, and I hope you're doing okay, given the position you're in. I apologize if my posts come across as being speculation since that was not/is not my intention. I do however live in the exact same area, and I travel the same road most days, often very early in the morning when that stretch of road is really quiet, so yes, if there are some riff-raff about who intend getting a kick out of doing this sort of thing, I would like to know. So......not speculating, but just trying to make sense of it all. BTW, how is Paul doing? Hope there's been some improvement.

[advocate]

My family also travels this road daily as we live only a few hundred metres from where this happened. We only hope that Paul recovers fully and that the bad guys are caught. No one wants to hurt anyones feelings in this matter but we are mindfull of the violence of this act and fearfull for the safety of our loved ones. I think it only natural that people are concerned as to whether this is a random or targeted attack. Either way, it does not in any way reflect on Paul's character.

Without this forum many locals might not be aware of this incident and the danger. My family is now forbidden by myself to drive our motorbike down this road. It's just not worth the risk.

[richard]

Ayling Family

Saw you eating in a local English cafe yesterday and meant to ask you how Paul is faring and have there been any further developments regarding the incident?

[ANITA]

Hi Richard, Thank you for asking after my son Paul. Apart from his face looking like Paul now,all bruising and swelling gone down,he is still in a coma . We have no idea how long ,the doctors can not say ,could be 6 months ,a year or longer. As of yet the police have not done any thing . We managed to get 2 names of guys that we think had attacked Paul. The police dont seem to do any thing.Our British Embassy can only do so much,we have had mails from the Foreing Office in the UK . They are all waiting for a response from the Thai police. So its waiting for Paul to wake up, and waiting for the police to get there fingers out. Anita .

[advocate]

Happy to hear Paul has stabilized and hope he comes out of his coma ok.

Since some time has gone by w/o any results from the police perhaps it is time to consider other tactics. Perhaps posting a reward along with a background story as to the circumstances in the local Thai newspaper might bring some results. Even a modest reward is often a substantial sum to most Thais and may provide the motivation for someone to come forward with information.

Most Thai perps, when confronted by the police, will readily confess and name their accomplices.

[ANITA]

HI THANKS FOR THAT,A reward has been put up by Pauls brother quite a big one. We had put quite a bit of money up for the names we got .Apparently the 2 guys the police got in on another charge. We have been told they can be held for 84 days.. We have just been told that Paul has got another scan schedued,plus he had a fever again last night. We have a meeting with police chief in Bangkok so maybe he can get them here to do some work? .We have been thinking of putting the story in the Bangkok Post. Anita.

[MLS]

I know this isn't likely to be of much help, yet something awful like what has happened to Paul Ayling truly thrusts my mundane problems down to the bottom of the 'perspective' pile, and while I don't know him - or anything about the circumstances other than what I've read here - I so wish him and his family fortitude and for an OK outcome. Hope they can all feel the positive vibes coming their way, of which I'm sure there are plenty.
And at the same time, I can't help hoping for terrible things to those who hurt him.

[Big Boy]

The police dont seem to do any thing.Our British Embassy can only do so much,we have had mails from the Foreing Office in the UK .

A friend of mine was murdered in Hua Hin a few years ago. His family were getting the same non-reaction from the police. In the end the family hired a private investigator, who sorted things out, and the culprits were caught.

[margaretcarnes]

The police dont seem to do any thing.Our British Embassy can only do so much,we have had mails from the Foreing Office in the UK .

A friend of mine was murdered in Hua Hin a few years ago. His family were getting the same non-reaction from the police. In the end the family hired a private investigator, who sorted things out, and the culprits were caught.

I think I know who you are talking about BB and if I'm right the family were fortunately in a position financially to be able to pull out all the stops. Sadly money still does talk.
This tragic case (both Anita and Pauls' wife have my deepest sympathy and best wishes for Pauls' recovery) but this case does bring to mind Dons' situation as well. Still no apparent result from the court case - unless I've missed something recently - and after considerable high profile publicity it took a word from the highest place before the police really got their act together on that one.
Anita has suggested contacting the Bangkok Post - in most other countries that would be a sensible idea. But I have never seen the BP publicise such cases. Again - maybe I've missed something - and there are some much more outspoken journalists on the Post these days who are not afraid to criticise the police and justice systems. I'm still doubtful that they would mention specific names - but it is certainly worth a try. If you don't ask you don't get Anita. At the very least the Post might agree to carry an ad about the reward, although any such ad really needs to be in the Thai language papers as well.
If finances do permit though I'd go straight for the PI. And with the greatest respect remember that Pauls' recovery is paramount.

[advocate]

I agree with margaretcarnes in that if a reward is posted it needs to be in the local Hua Hin Thai language newspaper. This is the paper I see the Thais reading in the local shops and restaurants. I have never seen a local reading the Bangkok Post.

I also agree that a PI is more likely to solve this than the local BIB. Perhaps the same PI who solved Don's murder, as he is likely already familiar with the area and some of the local Thais and police, and he gets results.

[advocate]

It may also be that the 2 suspects in custody for other offences may be guilty of this attack as well, and a PI may be able to find evidence to convict them, or that causes them to confess, or rules them out as suspects..

[ANITA]

Thank you all for you suggesting a private investigator.We have thought about this way to go but were giving the police a chance to do there work. IF this way has worked before ,its worth a try now. Does any one know of a good P I ? The names of the two we had been given ,were 100 per cent sure it is the guys .The police say they need evidence, DO THEY WANT US TO GET THAT AS WELL FOR THEM .??

[Takiap]

Yes, if you go the newspaper route, I agree that the local Hua-Hin newspaper (Thai) would be the best option. I too have never seen any Thai person around here reading the Bangkok Post.


A PI might well get results, although I can't see a PI being more capable than the police as far as getting a confession is concerned. I've hear the BIB are very good at extracting confessions


I don't mean to cause any upset here, but are we, that are from the west, not supposed to be opposed to the use of confessions? After all, I can get anyone to confess to any crime.

[Takiap]

Thank you all for you suggesting a private investigator.We have thought about this way to go but were giving the police a chance to do there work. IF this way has worked before ,its worth a try now. Does any one know of a good P I ? The names of the two we had been given ,were 100 per cent sure it is the guys .The police say they need evidence, DO THEY WANT US TO GET THAT AS WELL FOR THEM .??

Anita, I think you'd be better off getting a PI. While I don't know all the details, if the perps just hit your son as he drove past, there might no be any hard evidence as such, and this could explain why the police are dragging their heels. It's a difficult situation, and I really don't want to that you give up hope, but from one expat to another, brace yourself just in case. This is why I also think a PI might be your best option. Good luck, and be strong.