Perth woman stabbed to death in Phuket

[Roel]

CLOSING ON KILLER Phuket Murder Getaway Rider Arrested: Hunt for Knife Man Goes On

By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian
Monday, June 25, 2012
UPDATE

A MAN suspected of riding the getaway motorcycle in the Michelle Smith murder has been arrested in Samutsakhon province, near Bangkok. Police have named him as Surin Taptong, 34. The arrest came in the Ban Phaeo district at 8am today, police said. He is now being brought to Phuket. Police say they are closing in on the second man, who wielded the knife. He is in another province.

Original Report

PHUKET: Another bag-snatch on Phuket at the weekend sparked alarm as police continue a widening manhunt for the tall Thai who murdered Australian Michelle Smith.

In the latest case, the victim was a Korean tourist whose bag was snatched from a beach table while he swam late on Saturday at Kata, the next beach along from Kata Noi where Mrs Smith, 60, was knifed to death on Wednesday.

Phuket police reacted quickly and apprehended Nattasak Satitrong, 21, who confessed after he tried to ride a motorcycle around a checkpoint at Chalong, in southern Phuket.

Nattasak had a criminal record, said Sub-lieutenant Sirirat Chairat, who returned the bag to Korean visitor Kim Sui Yu.

Today Mrs Smith's murder and the drowning of six tourists on Phuket beaches in five weeks sparked a top-level review of security and safety on Phuket, with all of the holiday island's resorts being urged to improve security camera coverage.

Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha was joined at Provincial Hall in Phuket City by Phuket's leading elected official, Paiboon Upatising of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, and Phuket Tourism Association leaders.

''We need prevention in every aspect of tourism safety,'' said PTA President Somboon Jirayus, ''And we certainly hope the police can arrest Mrs Smith's killers quickly.''

Mrs Smith, a travel agent, was on a fact-finding tour of Phuket on behalf of the largest tour agent in Perth. Calls had been coming from other Australian agents about the hunt for her killers, Khun Somboon said.

Khun Paiboon added: ''We will arrange talks betweek resorts and police as soon as possible to spread Phuket's network of security cameras to the streets so that criminals know they cannot commit crimes and escape.''

Governor Tri has to front Thailand's powerful Senate Committee on Tourism in Bangkok tomorrow to explain the murder and the spate of drownings, which total eight in five weeks if the two deaths of Phuket tourists while whitewater rafting just off the island are included.

The largest ever crisis meeting on Phuket is planned for Wednesday with the Governor, top police, local council leaders and virtually the entire region's tourism industry represented.

Until the spate of recent drownings, fatalities at Phuket beaches and on the island's roads, where tourists often take risks riding motorcycles without helmets, had been trending lower.

Source:http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-bag ... unt-16218/

[Roel]

And a link to the mentioned video (not from the other forum):
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-vid ... ith-16211/

[Roel]

Breaking News: Two men arrested for stabbing murder of Phuket tourist Michelle Smith
Phuket Gazette – Monday, June 25, 2012 11:48:01 AM
PHUKET: Two suspects wanted for the stabbing murder of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith are in custody in Chumphon province and are expected to be returned to Phuket later today, the Phuket Gazette has learned.

News of the arrests came from Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha this morning during a meeting with local officials and tourism industry representatives.

The meeting, also attended by members of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, was held to arrange a much larger gathering, scheduled for Wednesday, to discuss tourist safety issues in Phuket.

Further details about the identity of the two men and how police were able to track them down are expected to come at a police press conference after the suspects' return to the island.

[GLCQuantum]

I foolishly just watched that video. Truly horrifying. Lets hope the killer gets the worst that can come to him.

[Roel]

BREAKING NEWS: Aussie killers confess in Phuket
Phuket Gazette – Tuesday, June 26, 2012 12:23:00 PM
Surasak Suwannachote, who confessed to stabbing Michelle Smith, is surrounded by police at the re-enactment of the crime in Phuekt this morning. Photo: Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai

Deputy National Police Chief Pansiri Prapawat told some 50 media personnel that the pair confessed to the crime, but said they had no intention of killing Mrs Smith. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: The two men arrested for the brutal stabbing murder of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith were presented to the media during a re-enactment of the crime outside the Katathani Hotel in Phuket this morning.

During a press conference at the resort after the re-enactment, Deputy National Police Chief Pansiri Prapawat told some 50 media personnel that the pair confessed to the crime, but said they had no intention of killing Mrs Smith.

Mrs Smith, a 60-year-old mother of three from the city of Perth, Western Australia, was in Phuket on a “familiarization tour” of the island when she was attacked about 100 meters from the resort.

With a punctured heart and lung, she collapsed and died in the arms of her friend and compatriot Tammee Lee Lynn, who suffered a lacerated right arm in the attack.

Gen Pansiri confirmed the stabber as Surasak Suwannachote, a native of Nakhon Sri Thammarat province.

The police were told he worked at a cockfighting gambling den somewhere on the island, even though such activity is illegal in the province. He had no prior criminal convictions.

His accomplice Surin Thatthong, the driver of the motorbike used in the attack, is no stranger to prison life. He had four prior theft convictions and has served time in Phuket Provincial Prison. The native of Samut Sakhon moved to the island about five years ago.

Little information was given about how investigators tracked down the two men, nor was there any mention as to whether the 300,000 baht in money on offer for information in the case will be rewarded.

The last time a major reward was offered in a murder case on the island, during the July 2010 manhunt for American Ronald Fanelli, the 50,000 baht reward money was divided up among the police investigators who worked on the successful investigation.

[charlesh]

Amazing how fast the MIB's can move when they get a gee up from Taky Shining wat's lil sis. On telly the culprit (aka: murderer) said that it was an accident and that he was only trying to cut the handbag straps!

[buksida]

Phuket Court on Wednesday sentenced two Thai men to life in jail for the killing of Michelle Smith, an Australian travel agent in June.

They initially faced death sentence but the verdicts were commuted to life in prison because they pleaded guilty.

Surasak Suwannachot, 26, wielded the knife that killed Smith, 60, a mother of three, and Surin Taptong, 37, drove the getaway motorcycle, Phuketwan online reported Wednesday.

The pair committed the killing on June 20. The online said the verdicts bring to a conclusion a murder case that made headlines all around the world, but especially in Australia. Concern among travel agents who support Phuket as a destination for 400,000 visitors a year led to alarm in Canberra and Bangkok.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra sent two of Thailand’s top policemen to Phuket to oversee the pursuit of the killing suspects, and to plan how best to make Phuket a more secure place - not just for Australians but for tourists from all over the world.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 87894.html