Udon police arrest Swiss expat who killed armed intruder at his home

[EVENKEEL]

2 minutes ago, steven100 said:

hmm .....  was she really as faithful as she made out    ?     I get a fishy smell and it ain't coming from the kitchen

Does it matter? I think not. 

[RoyLee]

After all that commotion including a gun going off, he had to wake his wife up?  She's one sound sleeper.

[norfolkandchance]

How many pages will this make? Come on you Sherlock’s.

[steven100]

1 minute ago, EVENKEEL said:

Does it matter? I think not. 

yes it does matter ... especially if she conspired to commit crime.   And she is a very heavy sleeper if she didn't hear any fighting and a gunshot.  

[Tropicalevo]

15 minutes ago, chuang said:

The swiss guy must be a expert in close combat....

Unless the gun was his???

[matchar]

8 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

They are not 'facts',  they are one person's version of what happened. 

We don't know exactly what happened but there are some facts. A dead intruder was found at the Swiss man's house and a gun was also found.

It's possible that the gun belongs to the Swiss man but I think his version of events sounds very plausible and it should be simple for the police to find out who the gun belonged to from forensics and also whether his story checks out.

[smedly]

5 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

So in your view,  one person's word is all that is needed is it?  I don't think so.  Why throw the gun in the pond, odd that.  Why tie up the man if he is unconscious, odd that.  What is the relationship between the man and the wife all about, odd that.  Lots of unanswered questions here.  

there is only one person left as a witness

 

the Swiss man threw the gun away - he didn't shoot the Thai

 

I would have tied him up too once disabled

 

What relationship

 

If the Thai was involved in a plot with the wife then it could be they plotted together to murder the farang, still doesn't change the outcome except the wife might be charged with conspiracy to commit murder - either way the Swiss man still successfully defended himself

 

 

[JonnyF]

Whatever the reason for the Thai guy breaking in with a gun, he got what he deserved. It really doesn't matter whether it was for money or to kill the woman's husband for 'romantic' reasons.

 

If this had been a Farang breaking in and getting killed by the Thai defending his property the Thai would be lauded by his countrymen as brave, strong, noble etc. But no, the swiss guy is arrested. What's worse, if the Thai had injured the farang then the farang would have been charged extra for his medical treatment due to his nationality/ethnicity because he must be rich and it's "good for Thailand". What a joke.

 

I'm genuinely starting to question my future in this place. I've had a good run but I'm really starting to wonder if I can stay long term given recent events.

[trainman34014]

Next thing you know the Burglers Family will be screaming for Billions of Baht in compensation for the 'Lost Earnings' of this Scumbag !

[smedly]

maybe he restrained him with 6 plastic bags over his head

[Ohyesuare]

19 minutes ago, chuang said:

The swiss guy must be a expert in close combat....

Article says he was an architect but that's most likely just a cover, he's probably former SAS, Navy Seal, Marine and Secret Service like a lot of the foreign expats in Thailand seem to be.

 

Seems like a pretty clear case of self defence but this isn't America where you can shoot someone in some states just for walking threateningly towards you, not if they are Thai anyway. I can understand them having to investigate if excessive force was used. Like if the Thai was beaten to death while already unconscious and tied up.

[tlcwaterfall]

55 minutes ago, chrisandsu said:

It has to be investigated . None of us know who is telling the truth yet .

A good reason to have security cameras installed.

[VocalNeal]

58 minutes ago, grandpa said:

So often after the headline story we hear nothing more, which is so infuriating! ????

So often on TV/Asean we give the benefit of our experience to people with problems and hear nothing more. 

[richard_smith237]

19 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

So in your view,  one person's word is all that is needed is it?  I don't think so. 

An investigation definitely needs to take place. That said, the story does not have any contradictions or strange information.

 

19 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Why throw the gun in the pond, odd that. 

Not odd at all - Would you have left the gun on table ?

Many would have thrown the gun into the pond. They don’t want to use the gun, they don’t want the intruder to try and get to the gun again - Throwing the gun in the pond was a clever thing to do.

Had the Swiss guy held on to the gun he could have been charged with a firearms offence. 

 

19 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Why tie up the man if he is unconscious, odd that. 

Not odd at all - would you have left the Thai man who’d just threatened your life unrestrained ?

The Swiss man was  worried that the Thai man would regain consciousness and attack him again. Common sense suggests restraining him so he cannot attack again. 

 

 

19 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

What is the relationship between the man and the wife all about, odd that. 

Not odd at all - The Wife explained that the Thai man is a local who made ‘moves’ on the wife previously. The wife mentioned that the Thai man is known, but not a friend. 

 

19 minutes ago, Doctor Tom said:

Lots of unanswered questions here.  

More questions answered here than we read in many reports of such incidents. 

 

Of course, investigation is necessary as we can’t automatically believe the first story. That said, it does appear as though the Swiss man acted reasonably, there does not seem to be any contradiction in the story.

 

The Swiss man was charged automatically as a matter or policy because there was a death involved. 

It is the same when someone is involved in a car accident which results in a death, the drivers are charged automatically as a matter or policy (I think the charge is ‘reckless driving causing death’ - which in most cases if there is no reckless driving proven the charges are dropped). 

 

In this case because there was a death, the Swiss man is automatically facing charges - given the information provided so far common sense suggests that if the police do not find any further evidence to contradict the story, the charges will be dropped against the Swiss man.

 

I hope we see a follow up to this story. 

 

[richard_smith237]

18 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Whatever the reason for the Thai guy breaking in with a gun, he got what he deserved. It really doesn't matter whether it was for money or to kill the woman's husband for 'romantic' reasons.

 

If this had been a Farang breaking in and getting killed by the Thai defending his property the Thai would be lauded by his countrymen as brave, strong, noble etc. But no, the swiss guy is arrested. What's worse, if the Thai had injured the farang then the farang would have been charged extra for his medical treatment due to his nationality/ethnicity because he must be rich and it's "good for Thailand". What a joke.

 

I'm genuinely starting to question my future in this place. I've had a good run but I'm really starting to wonder if I can stay long term given recent events.

 

Even in light of recent rejected ‘dual charging’ cases proving an element of inequality in Thailand (which you alluded to in your post - 'charged extra for his medical treatment due to his nationality’) - I suspect this case will be treated fairly. 

 

The charges are simply a matter of process because a death was involved. Worrying for the Swiss man, but hopefully a good lawyer has explained to him that this is nothing more than standard procedure. 

 

I would expect to see all charges dropped fairly quickly and that will be the end of it. 

 

While there are injustices and inequalities in Thailand which we can all provide examples for, for the most part, foreigners are treated fairly and when balanced of mind we can all provide examples of that. 

 

 

 

[Will B Good]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Worried that he would regain consciousness the foreigner tied him up, woke up his wife and got her to contact the phu yai ban to inform the police.

Woke up his wife?

 

She must have been well gone to not hear the fight and a gun shot......very odd??

 

I reckon she must have been gutted when she realized it was her husband who came upstairs.

Edited October 4, 2021 by Will B Good

[chrisandsu]

44 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Would it matter why an individual scaled a wall, discharged a gun in an assault. The Swiss is defending him self regardless of WHY the guy climbed over the wall.

So who said who’s gun it was ? Who said he scaled the wall ? It has to be investigated before anyones side of the truth can be believed . It’s quite easy to understand . Just for  arguments  sake he’s probably telling the truth ….. but you and I and most likely the police don’t for sure know that .

Edited October 4, 2021 by chrisandsu

[chrisandsu]

31 minutes ago, tlcwaterfall said:

A good reason to have security cameras installed.

Agree . Especially with no witnesses and most likely a language barrier 

Edited October 4, 2021 by chrisandsu

[richard_smith237]

20 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Worried that he would regain consciousness the foreigner tied him up, woke up his wife and got her to contact the phu yai ban to inform the police.

Woke up his wife?

 

She must have been well gone to not hear the fight and a gun shot......very odd??

Wife had been out... 3 sheets to the wind (drunk), got home slept, deep sleep...   I know a few people who would’ve slept through a gun-shot !!.....  there are times I probably would have.

 

That said, if she was so ‘pished’ I wonder how she handled the police...  perhaps the shock sobered her up a lot.

 

Also, what type of gun was it ??.... it if was a 22 with crappy old rounds it may not have been exceptionally loud etc.

 

Edit: It doesn’t look like a 22...  (image taken from the video below).

 

 

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by richard_smith237

[bbko]

The Swiss guys looks to be in good shape for being 63, even if he's found innocent of any crime (which he should be), what's the possibility one of the deceased relatives try to get revenge latter on?

Swiss guy reenacting the attempted robbery here:

 

[nahkit]

27 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Quote

Why throw the gun in the pond, odd that. 

Not odd at all - Would you have left the gun on table ?

Many would have thrown the gun into the pond.

Depends how far away the pond is.

[nahkit]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Pol Maj-Gen Phisanu Unhaseri said there were two cases - the first involved trespass at night with a gun and attempted murder against the victim.

So they are planning to charge the dead man?

[richard_smith237]

9 minutes ago, bbko said:

The Swiss guys looks to be in good shape for being 63, even if he's found innocent of any crime (which he should be), what's the possibility one of the deceased relatives try to get revenge latter on?

Swiss guy reenacting the attempted robbery here:

 

It seems extremely harsh that they handcuffed the Swiss guy, he’s reported himself and not proven to be a flight risk at all - I’m not sure if this is standard procedure, or just the police being d!cks. 

 

The concern for retaliation from relatives needs to be assessed. 

 

IF everything is above board and the story is factual and proven, it needs to be explained to the relatives that the Thai man is solely responsible for his own demise. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

6 minutes ago, nahkit said:

34 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Quote

Why throw the gun in the pond, odd that. 

Not odd at all - Would you have left the gun on table ?

Many would have thrown the gun into the pond.

Depends how far away the pond is.

Obviously within ‘throwing distance’ while in the middle of a fight. 

 

 

[Cabradelmar]

The wife sleeps through the whole thing and then all she has to say is my husband is an old pensioner and I like to party... and she knows the deceased... The plot thickens ???? Otherwise if it's just a dead criminal, justified. But then again nothing is rarely as it seems in Thailand.

[petermik]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

IF everything is above board and the story is factual and proven, it needs to be explained to the relatives that the Thai man is solely responsible for his own demise. 

 

 

Doubtful if the relatives would accept that he is responsible for for his own demise unless substantial compensation is offered....personally I would get out of the area ASAP if he is cleared with or without the wife.

[dyertribe]

I wonder why he had to wake the wife up ... did all this happen soundlessly, even the gun shot that was fired?

[billd766]

1 hour ago, Doctor Tom said:

They are not 'facts',  they are one person's version of what happened. 

And how do you KNOW that they are not facts? Were you there. Did you know the Swiss guy?

 

If it becomes a choice between the Swiss guy who was there and you who wasn't there, I certainly wouldn't believe you.

[pegman]

49 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

An investigation definitely needs to take place. That said, the story does not have any contradictions or strange information.

 

Not odd at all - Would you have left the gun on table ?

Many would have thrown the gun into the pond. They don’t want to use the gun, they don’t want the intruder to try and get to the gun again - Throwing the gun in the pond was a clever thing to do.

Had the Swiss guy held on to the gun he could have been charged with a firearms offence. 

 

Not odd at all - would you have left the Thai man who’d just threatened your life unrestrained ?

The Swiss man was  worried that the Thai man would regain consciousness and attack him again. Common sense suggests restraining him so he cannot attack again. 

 

 

Not odd at all - The Wife explained that the Thai man is a local who made ‘moves’ on the wife previously. The wife mentioned that the Thai man is known, but not a friend. 

 

More questions answered here than we read in many reports of such incidents. 

 

Of course, investigation is necessary as we can’t automatically believe the first story. That said, it does appear as though the Swiss man acted reasonably, there does not seem to be any contradiction in the story.

 

The Swiss man was charged automatically as a matter or policy because there was a death involved. 

It is the same when someone is involved in a car accident which results in a death, the drivers are charged automatically as a matter or policy (I think the charge is ‘reckless driving causing death’ - which in most cases if there is no reckless driving proven the charges are dropped). 

 

In this case because there was a death, the Swiss man is automatically facing charges - given the information provided so far common sense suggests that if the police do not find any further evidence to contradict the story, the charges will be dropped against the Swiss man.

 

I hope we see a follow up to this story. 

 

Not easy to take a gun from someone without getting shot. Wouldn't surprise me if Swiss was waiting for the guy to drop off his wife. It could have happened on other occasions. This time he was waiting with his firearm. Tied the guy up and over did it slapping him around. Told wifey to go along with the story or the gravy train ends. The thing that made me suspicious was him being up making coffee.

[greenmonkey]

defo more to this story than meets the eye. The fact that the wife is admitting she knows the deceased and he'd made advances which she turned down... very suspicious. If the Swiss guy was threatened with a gun then good on him for defending himself. Let's see how this plays out...