British man accused of brutally murdering Thai girlfriend faces extradition from Spain

[webfact]

 

A British man wanted in connection with the brutal murder and dismemberment of a woman in Thailand faces extradition from Spain, after his appeal was rejected by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

 

Shane Kenneth Looker, 47, and originally from Stoke, was arrested in Ibiza in 2017.

 

He was wanted in connection with the murder of 27 year old Laxami Manochat, known as Pook.

 

Her dismembered body was found stuffed in a suitcase and dumped in the Mae Klong River in Kanchanaburi in Nov 2014.

 

Thai police, who issued an international warrant for his arrest, say that Looker was the last person to see Manochat alive and have CCTV footage of the couple walking hand in hand from a bar in Nana Plaza.

 

Police carried out a raid on Looker’s home in Hua Hin where they allegedly found the clothes he was wearing in the CCTV footage, as well as samples of Pook’s DNA.

 

He was eventually arrested in 2017 by Guardia Civil in Ibiza when he used his real name to book a car in a garage for repairs.

 

He told Spanish police that he knew Pook but denied murdering her.

 

In 2018, a Spanish court ruled that Looker could be extradited to Thailand after being convinced by the assurances given from the Thai authorities that he would be treated humanely and not face the death penalty. 

 

However, Looker launched an appeal to the ruling with the ECHR stating that he would not receive a fair trial.

 

But now Spanish language news site Diario De Ibiza has reported that the ECHR has rejected Looker’s appeal, stating that he could have appealed with a court in Spain against ruling.

 

The rejection of the appeal by the ECHR now means that original ruling by the Spanish court may remain in place and Looker could now face extradition to Thailand. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-05-28

 

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[Rampant Rabbit]

Police say they unable to find him  refer to Red Bull  heir  case, oh wait!

[mvdf]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

He was eventually arrested in 2017 by Guardia Civil in Ibiza when he used his real name to book a car in a garage for repairs.

 

Interesting. So the garage did a background check or Interpol search on him? Or are garages linked to the police system?

 

Good to know he can't escape extradition. Even the ECHR affirmed Spain's decision. Time for some rice and tom kha soup with leftover fish heads. Despite the assurances that the death penalty is off the table, I'm almost certain that Thai courts will not consider time spent in prison in Spain as deductible from whatever sentenced is imposed. That's assuming he is convicted in Thailand of course.  

 

 

[Ralf001]

24 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

Police say they unable to find him  refer to Red Bull  heir  case, oh wait!

 

 

Reading between the lines I don't think the Thai police were actually looking for Mr Looker.

[Tarteso]

Enjoy the trip, see you next fall…. At Bangkok Hilton.

Edited May 28, 2021 by Tarteso

[soi3eddie]

43 minutes ago, Rampant Rabbit said:

Police say they unable to find him  refer to Red Bull  heir  case, oh wait!

and other easier to locate Thai fugitives. The evidence presented seems to indicate this guy deserves extradition to face trial. Some Thais on the run from Thai justice are easily located but nothing happens to them...

 

[Rampant Rabbit]

21 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

 

Reading between the lines I don't think the Thai police were actually looking for Mr Looker.

Not  in the least bit surprised.

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

and other easier to locate Thai fugitives. The evidence presented seems to indicate this guy deserves extradition to face trial. Some Thais on the run from Thai justice are easily located but nothing happens to them...

 

 

Hopefully those on the run book their car into a garage in Spain using their real name.

[smedly]

I thought Thai police had arrested this ####### already - I wonder what happened and how much it cost him

[BritManToo]

13 minutes ago, Ventenio said:

This is evil.  pure evil.   I will not bring up how this Brit murdered in a more gruesome way than other countries.........oh wait.

Would point out there's no evidence he murdered her, which he denies.

The only evidence stated in the OP is he took her home for the night, which he admits.

 

But I do agree, he won't receive a fair trial in Thailand.

Edited May 28, 2021 by BritManToo

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

But I do agree, he won't receive a fair trial in Thailand.

Why not? 

[Mr Meeseeks]

19 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Why not? 

No jury for starters. 

[robblok]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Would point out there's no evidence he murdered her, which he denies.

The only evidence stated in the OP is he took her home for the night, which he admits.

 

But I do agree, he won't receive a fair trial in Thailand.

He needs to be locked up key thrown away for doing a runner, and no evidence they got him with her the night of the murder. What do you want cctv image of the murder ?. Chances highly likely he did it the timeline fits. Of course he denies it and of course he admits to taking her home. Bit hard to deny video evidence and DNA in your home.

 

You seem to know what they have lets wait and see, he will get a fair trial and then he will be locked up (at least for doing a runner). Besides running never made anyone look innocent chances of guilty really high.

[robblok]

Just now, Mr Meeseeks said:

No jury for starters. 

We dont have a jury in the Netherlands either. Let professionals judge not juries. 

[NCC1701A]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Police carried out a raid on Looker’s home in Hua Hin

i have noticed the really Berserker types are walking around Pattaya making noise and harmlessly acting out.

 

But the quiet Psycho killer types seem to like Hua Hin. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 minutes ago, robblok said:

We dont have a jury in the Netherlands either. Let professionals judge not juries. 

Can judges in the Netherlands be influenced by cake boxes stuffed full of money too?

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Can judges in the Netherlands be influenced by cake boxes stuffed full of money too?

So juries are immune to that ? Nice 

 

Also who is going to pay off the judge the family of some poor farmers daughter who sold her body ? 

 

Damm you guys are so anti Thai and anti female it hurts just reading some of the posts.

[Smithson]

I remember this case. They were after him pretty quickly following the discovery of the body. I wonder how he left Thailand? The chances of guilt are high if they agree to extradition.

 

While he may not receive the death penalty, there's a fair chance of inhumane treatment judging by photos of Thai prisons. It would be good if foreign government's could use this as leverage when considering extradition, not for the sake of this guy, but for all those in for minor drug possession.

[Mr Meeseeks]

5 minutes ago, robblok said:

He needs to be locked up key thrown away for doing a runner, and no evidence they got him with her the night of the murder. What do you want cctv image of the murder ?. Chances highly likely he did it the timeline fits. Of course he denies it and of course he admits to taking her home. Bit hard to deny video evidence and DNA in your home.

 

You seem to know what they have lets wait and see, he will get a fair trial and then he will be locked up (at least for doing a runner). Besides running never made anyone look innocent chances of guilty really high.

I would suggest if that is all the evidence there is then it would be difficult to convict on that basis. The evidence is purely circumstantial.

 

However did he take here from the bar in Nana to his home in Hua Hin? That for me is unusual.

 

He was also a steroid user, so probably not mentally stable either. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 minutes ago, robblok said:

So juries are immune to that ? Nice 

 

Also who is going to pay off the judge the family of some poor farmers daughter who sold her body ? 

 

Damm you guys are so anti Thai and anti female it hurts just reading some of the posts.

It should every person's right to be tried by a jury of their peers. 

 

Some food for thought:-

 

Juries ensure community representation informs the weighing of evidence and allowing everyday perspectives to be incorporated into judging those accused of serious crimes. They ensure this decision-making is not just the province of elites (like judges) and keeps apace of changing community values.

 

Jurors in a trial also force transparency into the process by requiring evidence in court to be accessible to the average member of the community.

There are other advantages – in reaching complex decisions, 12 heads are better than one; gender and racial diversity are intrinsic, albeit imperfectly, in a jury mix; and, as jury deliberations require jurors to discuss, explain and deliberate, there is an airing and accounting of contrary views, in a process that reflects democratic principles. 

 

https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/business-law/why-do-we-have-juries#:~:text=Juries ensure community representation informs,apace of changing community values.

 

Lay person participation in the legal system is considered central to a healthy democracy. Lawyers play a major role in making the laws in parliament. Judges then apply the laws. If juries weren’t used, lawyers would have a monopoly over the law. Lawyers have their own specialised language in which they communicate among themselves. Including juries in the legal system forces lawyers to use common language.

It’s the collective wisdom of 12 that makes a jury. Jurors bring to the trial 12 times more life experience than a judge. Psychological research has established that personal, subconscious biases can be identified and addressed in group discussion.

 

https://theconversation.com/all-about-juries-why-do-we-actually-need-them-and-can-they-get-it-wrong-112703

 

It's not a perfect system, nothing is, but juries are the best system we have.

 

Much like voting governments in is better than military coups. I'm sure you agree, no? 

 

To stay on topic, what about the Thai judge that recently killed himself over the corruption in the justice system here? That alone should be ringing alarm bells. 

[Smithson]

7 minutes ago, robblok said:

Damm you guys are so anti Thai and anti female it hurts just reading some of the posts.

I haven't seen that at all. While on the other hand you are advocating throwing away the key because he was on CCTV with the victim? While I agree there's a strong chance he's guilty, the evidence in the story is very limited.

[Neeranam]

1 minute ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

It should every person's right to be tried by a jury of their peers. 

Like in the USA?

 

Where juries are biased, paid off, disregard the judge's instructions, are affected by the media, threatened by mafia. 

 

You can get away with murder, look at Homer Simpson.

 

But please keep on bashing thailand. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 minute ago, Neeranam said:

Like in the USA?

 

Where juries are biased, paid off, disregard the judge's instructions, are affected by the media, threatened by mafia. 

 

You can get away with murder, look at Homer Simpson.

 

But please keep on bashing thailand. 

Not bashing Thailand, but are you really trying to tell us that the Thai justice system can be trusted at any level, from local plod through to the top judges?

 

If so I think you need to step away from the crack pipe mate.

[tifino]

he mistook that dismembering her, instead of her dismembering him; was more difficult than in her case only needing a simple Duck to help rid of his...  

 

[VillageIdiot]

1 hour ago, Poet said:

Every girl likes to date a looker.

Make that...

   "Every hooker has her looker".

[DaLa]

6 minutes ago, Smithson said:

I haven't seen that at all. While on the other hand you are advocating throwing away the key because he was on CCTV with the victim? While I agree there's a strong chance he's guilty, the evidence in the story is very limited.

Totally agree, and it doesn't help that the headline includes the unnecessary adverb 'brutally'. 

[robblok]

9 minutes ago, Smithson said:

I haven't seen that at all. While on the other hand you are advocating throwing away the key because he was on CCTV with the victim? While I agree there's a strong chance he's guilty, the evidence in the story is very limited.

No i advocate for throwing away the key for doing a runner. Cant deny he is guilty of that. 

[robblok]

11 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

It should every person's right to be tried by a jury of their peers. 

 

Some food for thought:-

 

Juries ensure community representation informs the weighing of evidence and allowing everyday perspectives to be incorporated into judging those accused of serious crimes. They ensure this decision-making is not just the province of elites (like judges) and keeps apace of changing community values.

 

Jurors in a trial also force transparency into the process by requiring evidence in court to be accessible to the average member of the community.

There are other advantages – in reaching complex decisions, 12 heads are better than one; gender and racial diversity are intrinsic, albeit imperfectly, in a jury mix; and, as jury deliberations require jurors to discuss, explain and deliberate, there is an airing and accounting of contrary views, in a process that reflects democratic principles. 

 

https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/business-law/why-do-we-have-juries#:~:text=Juries ensure community representation informs,apace of changing community values.

 

Lay person participation in the legal system is considered central to a healthy democracy. Lawyers play a major role in making the laws in parliament. Judges then apply the laws. If juries weren’t used, lawyers would have a monopoly over the law. Lawyers have their own specialised language in which they communicate among themselves. Including juries in the legal system forces lawyers to use common language.

It’s the collective wisdom of 12 that makes a jury. Jurors bring to the trial 12 times more life experience than a judge. Psychological research has established that personal, subconscious biases can be identified and addressed in group discussion.

 

https://theconversation.com/all-about-juries-why-do-we-actually-need-them-and-can-they-get-it-wrong-112703

 

It's not a perfect system, nothing is, but juries are the best system we have.

 

Much like voting governments in is better than military coups. I'm sure you agree, no? 

 

To stay on topic, what about the Thai judge that recently killed himself over the corruption in the justice system here? That alone should be ringing alarm bells. 

Right, seems the Dutch justice system makes far less mistakes then in the USA for instance. So you don't need a jury at all its just one system no jury is not worse can even be superior. 

 

Maybe should do a comparison between countries i got great faith in the Dutch system especially given the fact that professionals know the law better then lay persons.

[tifino]

2 minutes ago, DaLa said:

Totally agree, and it doesn't help that the headline includes the unnecessary adverb 'brutally'. 

maybe either he had a very blunt blade edge? or a very bad aim??  

[WineOh]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Shane Kenneth Looker, 47, and originally from Stoke, was arrested in Ibiza in 2017.

 

He was wanted in connection with the murder of 27 year old Laxami Manochat, known as Pook.

 

Her dismembered body was found stuffed in a suitcase and dumped in the Mae Klong River in Kanchanaburi in Nov 2014.

I always thought Stoke fans were an aggressive lot, but bodies in suitcases????

I didn't picture that! 

Edited May 28, 2021 by WineOh