Can a ‘lie detector’ tell us the truth about Tangmo’s death?

[webfact]

 

Police investigating the death of actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong have resorted to using a lie detector after witness accounts became suspiciously murky.

 

Polygraph testing was deemed necessary following conflicting accounts given by the five people who were with her on the speedboat when Tangmo fell into the Chao Phraya River on the night of February 24.

 

The question investigators are seeking to answer is whether her death was an accident or the result of foul play.

In a bid to find out who told the truth and who lied to them, they have turned to polygraph testing.

 

Polygraphs are a well-established but controversial investigative technique. Thai police have used them in several high-profile cases where suspects and witnesses have offered conflicting testimony.

 

Many researchers and experts insist that polygraph tests are still far from perfect as tools to determine if someone is lying. They also criticize the term “lie detector” to describe polygraphs as a complete misnomer.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/can-a-lie-detector-tell-us-the-truth-about-tangmos-death/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-03

 

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[Will B Good]

It strikes me that if there was a high degree of confidence in lie detectors they should be used every single time a statement is made under oath.

 

They aren't, so I personal doubt their ability to detect lies to any great degree......I could be lying of course.....you will never know.

Edited March 3, 2022 by Will B Good

[Mr Meeseeks]

Surprised they are not using the infallible GT-200 with the 'lie detector' card. 

[sqwakvfr]

No such thing as a "Lie Detector".  The proper term is Polygraph.  I've had several in order to obtain US Government Security Clearances.  The examiner only asks Yes or No answer questions.  When the subject answers the examiner notes any changes to the measurement indicators(Blood Pressure, Pulse etc).  In the end the conclusions can be:

 

1) Deceptive

2) Not Deceptive

3) inconclusive. 

[Paulaew]

I suspect that the use of a polygraph is just an intimidation tactic to encourage the witnesses to be more forthcoming. The Thai police may not even have a properly calibrated polygraph or officers trained in the proper use of the device. They just need the witnesses to believe it's a "lie detector."

 

Paul Laew

[steven100]

Can a ‘lie detector’ tell us the truth about Tangmo’s death?  

 

No ,   but a telephone book can. 

[Liverpool Lou]

55 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Can a ‘lie detector’ tell us the truth about Tangmo’s death?  

 

No ,   but a telephone book can. 

How?

[steven100]

5 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

How?

[Liverpool Lou]

3 minutes ago, steven100 said:

What's that got to do with "telephone books"?

[steven100]

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What's that got to do with "telephone books"?

in the old days they used the heavy telephone book instead of those batons to get confessions .....   Lol

[CharlieH]

8 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I thought plastic bags were the preferred method here ????

[animalmagic]

4 hours ago, steven100 said:

Can a ‘lie detector’ tell us the truth about Tangmo’s death?  

 

No ,   but a telephone book can. 

Only if used with a hammer!

[animalmagic]

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

How?

The telephone book when held against the chest of a suspect and then hit with a hammer allows the force to be felt over a larger area whilst avoiding the contact bruising caused by blunt force trauma.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

If Polygraphs were accurate enough, they could be used in court as evidence, but they cannot be used in court, so they are not accurate!

[Will B Good]

1 hour ago, animalmagic said:

Only if used with a hammer!

................or plastic carrier bag

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The question investigators are seeking to answer is whether her death was an accident or the result of foul play.

In a bid to find out who told the truth and who lied to them, they have turned to polygraph testing.

It might not be the final answer but putting a bit of pressure on those who were on the boat to confess the truth or change their stories isn't a bad thing?

A fail on the lie detector doesn't look good.

Plus witnesses with different stories might decide to change what they reported initially.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, Will B Good said:

It strikes me that if there was a high degree of confidence in lie detectors they should be used every single time a statement is made under oath.

I would think the lie detector test is more reliable than asking a Thai to tell the truth?

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

No such thing as a "Lie Detector".  The proper term is Polygraph.  I've had several in order to obtain US Government Security Clearances.  The examiner only asks Yes or No answer questions.  When the subject answers the examiner notes any changes to the measurement indicators(Blood Pressure, Pulse etc).  In the end the conclusions can be:

 

1) Deceptive

2) Not Deceptive

3) inconclusive. 

Maybe they need to add "misunderstanding" for the Thai model?

[Bangkok Barry]

Thais can lie so naturally that they might not be picked up anyway.

[Golden Triangle]

10 hours ago, CharlieH said:

I thought plastic bags were the preferred method here ????

Nice new avatar ????????

[kwonitoy]

18 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What's that got to do with "telephone books"?

Place a phone book on the suspects head, Hit very hard with a club, no visible club marks but the shock to your body is tremendous.

 

 

[Emdog]

Lie detectors are predicated on the idea that the person being tested knows they are lying AND feels lying is wrong, leading to physiological responses: sweat, heart beat, etc

Thai cultural values emphasize keeping others "comfortable", aka "lying to them" far far more than any value that could be attached to speaking the truth.

[Pmbkk]

 

Glad to see all the old SAS guys are out in force with their old torture techniques .. ????