Sad news just reported by Sky News:

quote:

A British woman's been found dead off the island of Koh Samui in Thailand. The Foreign Office says Katherine Horton's body was discovered in the sea by a jet-skier at 10am their time.

The 21 year old's believed to be from Cardiff.

A spokesman says she was last seen the previous night.

The BBC has a more detailed report here.

A further BBC report Murder probe after Thailand death

More on this story HERE

And some more HERE
According to this report, the place where she stayed was not very friendly!

And MORE and also here

quote:

Two Thai fishermen are expected to appear in court within 12 days accused of the rape and murder of Katherine Horton.

The suspects are said to have confessed to attacking the Reading University student on Koh Samui at New Year.

The British Embassy says arrest warrants have been issued by the Thai courts which effectively means they've been charged.

Source: Sky News Feed

BBC Report Two held over Thai tourist murder

Does anyone else think it's a bit of a coincidence that a day or so after Thaksin demands a quick resolve to this problem they catch 2 culprits?

I'm afraid there is no way of knowing whether these really are the guilty parties or not. Any justice system that depends on extraction of confessions for most cases cannot be relied on - though I guess the DNA evidence may make it more probable that these are the guys.

Ian

quote:

Originally posted by IanB:
I'm afraid there is no way of knowing whether these really are the guilty parties or not. Any justice system that depends on extraction of confessions for most cases cannot be relied on - though I guess the DNA evidence may make it more probable that these are the guys.

Ian

Yes you're right about the DNA, I just hope it was found at the crime scene and not put there. I'm probably just being too cynical, but after the last fiasco with the two backpackers who got shot in kanchanaburi and all the rumours that flew around after that it's hard to know what's going on

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006010731,00.html

"The monsters’ defence lawyer yesterday admitted they were guilty — after DNA evidence showing there is just a 500million-to-one chance they did not kill the 21-year-old student.

Amatin Nuiami said: “They’ve admitted to me their parts in the attack.

“If the suspects did the crime, they deserve the death penalty to do justice to Katherine’s family. It is hard for them to deny their crimes given the evidence.

“On the night of the attack they were really drunk and they had seen some pornography movies.

“They ran on to the beach and said ‘we need to have sex’.

“They then saw Katherine, turned to each other and said ‘let’s do it’. They did not say a word to her.”

Mr Nuiami, speaking after the court appearance in Surat Thani on the Thai mainland, added: “They have shown no sign of wanting to reject the charges.

“Police did not abuse them to extract the confessions. Scratches on them came from Katherine.”

Some defence lawyer

Not saying given the DNA evidence they are not guilty but these boys could be heading for death row.

Richard

Richard

quote:

Originally posted by richardb:Not saying given the DNA evidence they are not guilty but these boys could be heading for death row.
Richard

I thought under Thai law if one confesses then the sentence would be reduced. So it maybe that they will get the death sentence but then have it commuted because they confessed. This could be the reason why they confessed when presented with the evidence.

If only "bang to rights" cases could be held so quickly here! Rather than the Defence Lawyer telling them to plead innocent etc, he tells it as it is. With DNA evidence and admissions I would say it is clear cut, but here in the UK it could still be taken to court appearance after appearance and then appeal!

I have heard a lot recently how Koh Samui is going down hill (Thailand and UK) and this murder epitomises it. I hope that with the poor ladies death that the island "cleans up" and returns to the island paradise that it once was. If the case was held in the UK then the fact that they had watched pron beforehand would have been some sort of defence and there would be outcries to ban porn (sorry if that's your village) as it leads everyone into committing this sort of henious crime.

My congratulations go to the authorities in finding the culprits so quickly, the trial and admission and hopefully the sentence. My commiserations go to the family and friends of Katherine.