chang1

It was reported he had been a kick boxer. It also sounds like she did put up a good fight hence his injuries.

I think there was a bit of a stir on Ko Tao a few years ago and earlier Taksin went to Samui after a similar case there which was also quickly solved soon after - the perpetrators even had the girls shirt on their boat - conveniently.

It may make you feel better but I and most people, would feel better if he had not felt attacking her was a good option. Prevention is better than cure and killing him will do little to prevent this happening again. It has been done many times before. He is the son of an ex headman so probably had a privileged upbringing. Killing the people who brought him up would send a better signal to others to reduce this type of thing. Look at how women are portrayed on TV here another way violence towards women is normalised. They are full of scenes with women crying and screaming. Education and making women a lot more respected by males would be a good start. Does having the Ko Tao pair on death row make the victims families feel better while seeing what happened here? This is not just a Thai problem either.

Both were reported is my point and both now being changed. The info on the suspect came from somewhere and included his age. We don't know if a Burmese man was being setup and then suddenly the real perpetrator fell into their laps meaning the original guy had a lucky escape. As for the rape or attempted rape, why is it not mentioned in the "confession"? despite it being reported he did confess to it earlier. He didn't need to remove her shorts to Rob her or kill her. Do you not think there is a desire to make things look better and less newsworthy? Which would get noticed more murder for money or raped and murdered? Which is better for Thailands image abroad and here - this committed by a Thai or a foreigner? Remember the "Thais would never do this" about Ko Tao murders? Then after a headman's son got implicated 2 Burmese lads suddenly "confessed". The heat is on and face must be saved at all costs and quickly.

Someone was saying drugs should be decriminalised, on the "Robin Hood" drug dealer thread, which I can sympathise with if users only ruined their own lives. This is an extreme case of how drugs affect those around the user. Assuming money and not rape was the motive here would cheap freely available drugs have saved her life? I doubt it but it is certainly a debate that needs investigating. To me drug taking is not a problem as it is their choice and only affects the them. If he/she overdoses it's their fault. The problem is how it affects others - partners, children, parents, colleagues and those harmed by the violence and crimes committed and things like drug driving. If laws around drug use are relaxed it may reduce the crimes committed to help obtain the drugs but all the other problems will still be their. Did this <deleted> kill her to fund his habit or because he was already under the influence? There are still crimes committed connected to tobacco and alcohol but you don't hear much about robberies and murders committed by people having a joint or two. I can't say I have a solution but do think crimes committed to feed a drug habit should be treated differently. Stealing a PlayStation to help feed your family is way different to stealing it to feed your habit. One is desperation and the other is desperation but the second is desperation caused by choice. Even the risk of a death sentence does little to deter some people so another strategy needs to be found - not because we should care about low life's like this <deleted> but because we care about our wife's, mothers, sisters and daughters!

So not raped as previously reported. Not a Burmese man as previously reported. Has all the signs of damage limitation going wrong. Can we believe anything we are told?

Easy mistake to make, I often wonder if I am talking with a fellow Brit or a French man.

Far more tourists were harmed on Thai roads than by being attacked. The difference is they don't have the same shock factor despite being far more likely to happen. I had 18 months off work due to a bus driver falling asleep but never been attacked by anyone here.

I doubt the good old days would come back for long. An accelerated Chinese take-over is more what I predict. Especially if the current regime refuse to release their grip on power.

Even they will do the easy and obvious things first. The dubious part is how they use or act on the evidence gained which seems to depend on how much influence the suspects have rather than how strong the evidence is. If the suspect is rich enough they can get away with killing a police man despite overwhelming evidence on the other hand if you are a couple of poor immigrant labourers, the most flimsy evidence can end up with the death sentence.

I have a sneaky suspicion that the BiB may have thought of that already.

To me it was the 2 week holiday makers who came in droves after the tsunami. Coconut island became a building site full of families and louts, taxis and McDonald's all of which ruined the atmosphere and greed took over everywhere - except the small shops with there double prices which Tesco put an end to. Before that it was all long stayers like me and backpackers - great company and everyone out for a good time. Of course there was the odd upmarket hotel full of the types I despise but the bars of Lamai were mostly off limits to those snobs. I stopped going there altogether about 12 years ago but hope to get back again soon before the island is overrun with boring people again. Trouble is I will only be able to stay a couple of weeks with my family - time changes us all I suppose. Soon I will despise myself.

I may have been 10 years too late but Samui in 2000 was paradise to me.

You and your wife disagree then - are you missing a "not"? Mobile phones take care of most of those concerns but lone women are at an increased risk from men, this is the real problem we should not just be concerned about but actively doing something about. Whenever boys or men talk disrespectfully about women it should be challenged like racism should. Some of the comments on this forum are very abusive and should not be tolerated as they foster an attitude or culture that women are there for our pleasure and to be dominated. I have been brought up with this and am also guilty at times. Yesterday in a reply to one of my posts someone said that he spanks his wife if she misbehaves - an obvious joke but really I should have called it out just as if he had said his black neighbour instead of wife should be called out as being offensive. Abuse of girls and women is a worldwide problem and we should be tackling the root cause not just the symptoms.

A very good looking and astute person does but his post appears to have been deleted - so here it is repeated with a reply just to <deleted> off the mods. You don't need a sperm sample to carry out a DNA test, a simple mouth swab will give the DNA result

You think wrong. Been here a week now and it is great. Quiet Phuket is like going back 20 years. People are friendly, beaches quiet, no jet ski's or speed boats, few taxi vans, good temperature with a nice onshore wind, not much rain, empty restaurants and roads etc. I have yet to try the Patong nightlife but for a family holiday it is very pleasant.

Sure is - safari holidays, even North Korea gets tourists, just not very popular.

No worries. Makes it a bit worrying going out around the island now when they do tricks like that. I doubt they would try to frame a farang though.

If I remember correctly, the top DNA expert got sidelined during the Kho Tao investigation. So there is expertise around but could be used selectively. It seems crime scenes don't get secured so evidence is often compromised.

Incapable of being convicted around tourist areas but outside them they are fair game.

So where do you think the "sample" would have ended up? Hence why I brought it up.

A sad event that saves face of those expecting more tourists.

May link her to her killer - taxi driver or even a farang. May show her stopping at or passing a restaurant with cctv with video of her being followed. Certainly could give valuable information.

The first column looks pretty good for Thailand. Maybe events here get more publicity than say South Africa.

Especially if he gets sent home.