Former Canadian soldier & alleged hitman accused of killing B.C. gangster in Thailand could face death penalty if extradited: lawyer

[webfact]

Former Canadian soldier Matthew Dupre began an extradition hearing in Edmonton Court of King's Bench Sept. 27, 2022. He is wanted for trial by the Kingdom of Thailand, which claims the Alberta resident participated in the Feb. 4, 2022, homicide of former B.C. United Nations gangster Jimi Singh Sandhu. PHOTO BY COURT DOCUMENTS

 

 

An ex-Canadian soldier and alleged hitman accused of killing a former B.C. gangster in Thailand could face the death penalty if he is extradited to face trial, his lawyer says

 

by Jonny Wakefield

An ex-Canadian soldier and alleged hitman accused of killing a former B.C. gangster in Thailand could face the death penalty if he is extradited to face trial, his lawyer says.

Matthew Dupre, 36, began an extradition hearing Tuesday in Edmonton Court of King’s Bench — an early step which could end with his surrender to Thai authorities for trial in the murder of Jimi Singh Sandhu.

 

According to a brief filed by Canada’s Attorney General on behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand, Thai authorities believe Dupre and another Canadian, Gene Karl Lahrkamp, gunned down Sandhu on the island of Phuket Feb. 4, 2022.

 

Sandhu, a member of the United Nations gang, was shot more than 10 times outside his villa at Phuket’s Beachfront Hotel. Thai police found large sums of money and illegal drugs during a search of the villa, “leading investigators to believe that the murder related to an illegal drug trade rivalry,” the government brief states.

 

Full story: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/former-canadian-soldier-alleged-hitman-accused-of-killing-b-c-gangster-in-thailand-could-face-death-penalty-if-extradited-lawyer

 

-- © Copyright TTR Weekly 2022-09-28

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

[Iamfalang]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

related to an illegal drug trade rivalry

One of the benefits to getting older is the young drug dealers (oh, it's pretty obvious sometimes) aren't too afraid of the old falang.   It's also easier to just ask like you have no idea what these jokers are doing on their motorbikes with bags and cash and ...

 

because we are LOS......that stuff doesn't happen here!!! Only tourists in temples and elephants eating strawberries... 

[CANSIAM]

Quite certain the Canadian government won't send someone to Thailand for a 'possible' death sentence.........

[userabcd]

6 minutes ago, CANSIAM said:

Quite certain the Canadian government won't send someone to Thailand for a 'possible' death sentence.........

Wonder if they can just do as the USA does and commit to take the Death Penalty off the table in sentencing.

[swerve]

The people who downed Lahrkamp's plane will also be very interested in this guy.

[ezzra]

I'd say hire the man to do more clean ups of scums and gangsters, not imprison him...

[bobbin]

8 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I'd say hire the man to do more clean ups of scums and gangsters, not imprison him...

Why even say something like this?

 

So you are ok with even more violence in the illegal drug trade? The obvious approach is to decriminalize all drug use and source clean safe products for people..

 

But you don't like that idea. You want to continue the 70 year old unwinnable  War on Drugs. You have already made many posts to this effect in discussions regarding Thailand's efforts to liberalize (humanize) formerly harsh laws , whose only effect was to over-fill their prisons..

[Chris.B]

Whats an B.C. gangster??

[bobbin]

9 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Whats an B.C. gangster??

The reference would be clear to Canadian readers of the original article from a Canadian news outlet..

 

There are several criminal organizations in British Columbia who have made a lot of money in the criminal drug trade.  Of course this is possible only because the products they deal in are illegal.

 

The United Nations gang is, just as the name implies, an organization that does not discriminate based on ethnic/national origin.

[PolarAttack]

25 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Whats an B.C. gangster??

That reminds me of the question, what’s in a Nanaimo Bar?  With the answer of course being, hookers and gangsters. People in BC will know what I’m talking about ????????

[n00dle]

51 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I'd say hire the man to do more clean ups of scums and gangsters, not imprison him...

thus spake the codger.

[Aussieroaming]

I've got a suggestion for the RTP.

 

The RTP could look for a sponsor to help raise funds for extradition. They could have headings like:

"This extradition is sponsored by Red Bull. We leave no stoner unturned to get our man"

[Chongalulu]

3 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Quite certain the Canadian government won't send someone to Thailand for a 'possible' death sentence.........

I dunno,one in,one out? They’ve just got a real peach from Burma on the way in! ???? 

[JeffersLos]

3 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Quite certain the Canadian government won't send someone to Thailand for a 'possible' death sentence.........

 

3 hours ago, userabcd said:

Wonder if they can just do as the USA does and commit to take the Death Penalty off the table in sentencing.

 

You obviously don't know the Lee Aldhouse extradition story from 10 years ago.

 

Thailand removes the death penalty option before extradition. 

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Quite certain the Canadian government won't send someone to Thailand for a 'possible' death sentence.........

The reality is while Canada House of Commons voted in 1976 to abolish capital punishment and again in 1987, Canada can extradite someone accused of murder in a foreign country.

 

The Canadian Minister of Justice has the "discretionary authority to order such unconditional surrender pursuant to Canadian Extradition Act"  of 1985. See also Kindler, (1991) 2 S.C.R. at 779.

https://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/cilj/vol26/1/7

 

With regards to Memeia aka Obi the Canadian Justice McNaughton ruled that "Seeking a satisfactory death penalty assurance amounts to a 'sufficient cause' against the discharge of Mr. Obi."

Long story short, there seems to be Canadian issues with the Thailand judicuary essentially lacking consistency to assure no death penalty in connection with extradition from Canada and Thailand's seemingly missing, vague and/or ever-changing legal positions on extradition (stymied in part by military coups) based on assurance of no death penalty. Canada has received a satisfactory death penalty assurance from Thailand in only one case. And to date nothing in Thailand appears to have changed.

July 9, 2022

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/

"Death penalty concerns delay Thailand extradition for man held 1,200 days in B.C. custody"

 

My take is that an assurance of a life sentence for Obi should be granted if convicted of murder in Thailand that there will be no death penalty stipulated with regard to the specific murder related to a drug trade rivalry. 

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, bobbin said:

Why even say something like this?

 

So you are ok with even more violence in the illegal drug trade? The obvious approach is to decriminalize all drug use and source clean safe products for people..

 

But you don't like that idea. You want to continue the 70 year old unwinnable  War on Drugs. You have already made many posts to this effect in discussions regarding Thailand's efforts to liberalize (humanize) formerly harsh laws , whose only effect was to over-fill their prisons..

What has the elimination of gangsters and scum got to do with the drug dealing, not every crim is involved with drugs. 

[Jaybott]

Why would they even think the death penalty was on the table?  Wasn't it about three months ago a farang was convicted of murdering a Thai woman, dismembering her body and placing it in a box?  He only got 6 years.

[Liverpool Lou]

4 hours ago, userabcd said:

Wonder if they can just do as the USA does and commit to take the Death Penalty off the table in sentencing.

Yes, they can.

[Liverpool Lou]

51 minutes ago, Jaybott said:

Why would they even think the death penalty was on the table? 

Because Thailand has the death penalty.

[oslooskar]

4 hours ago, userabcd said:

Wonder if they can just do as the USA does and commit to take the Death Penalty off the table in sentencing.

Serial Killer Charles Ng was extradited from Canada to California and he is presently on Death Row at San Quentin prison awaiting execution. However, given the current political climate in California, it is highly unlikely Ng will ever be executed. 

[mogandave]

32 minutes ago, oslooskar said:

Serial Killer Charles Ng was extradited from Canada to California and he is presently on Death Row at San Quentin prison awaiting execution. However, given the current political climate in California, it is highly unlikely Ng will ever be executed. 

I heard he was running for Attorney General.

[arick]

Death penalty in Thailand is no different then living in Edmonton. 

[mushroomdave]

Canada will NEVER extradite someone if the death penalty is on the table......they will extradite, and have MANY times before to MANY countries, but not if they face death when turned over.  So he will NEVER see Thailand again unless they remove it......your move Thailand!!

(with the Ng decision, they can......but they will not do it and have not since)

[Colabamumbai]

6 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Quite certain the Canadian government won't send someone to Thailand for a 'possible' death sentence.........

Thailand will agree not to kill him, Canada will send him. 

[MrJ2U]

Canada doesn't send people to countries that may enact the death penalty.

 

They'll take into account that he may or may have not killed a convicted fugitive and known murderer that the government of Thailand was harboring.

 

Perhaps the brainless law authorities in Thailand are unaware of this? 

[macca3248]

Maybe he did the world a favour !

[unblocktheplanet]

D'oh. Leave the killing to the professionals, eh. They've got the uniforms for it.

[Neeranam]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

former B.C. United Nations gangster

What is BC?

[Canuckluck]

3 hours ago, arick said:

Death penalty in Thailand is no different then living in Edmonton. 

You forgot the P ; )

[CosmicSurfer]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

What is BC?

B.C. = British Columbia... a Province in Canada !!