British Man Arrested in Thailand for 20-Year-Old UK Murder Case

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Immigration.

 

Collaboration between Immigration Bureau and DSI leads to capture of Yorkshire Dales murder suspect. In a breakthrough case spanning two decades, Thai Immigration authorities, in collaboration with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), apprehended 62-year-old British national David Stuart Armitage. 

 

Armitage is the prime suspect in the murder of his Thai wife, Lamduan Armitage (née Seekanya), whose body was discovered in 2004 in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, UK. The arrest took place on 23 January 2025 in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, where the suspect had been living in hiding.

 

Lamduan's body was found in 2004 by hikers in the Yorkshire Dales. For years, she remained unidentified and was dubbed "The Lady of the Hills." DNA testing in 2019 finally confirmed her identity, linking her to her family in Udon Thani, Thailand. Lamduan had moved to the UK to live with her British husband, David Armitage, and their two children. Reports suggest she had been working in a Thai restaurant and had confided in her family about being subjected to domestic abuse shortly before her disappearance.

 

Authorities tracked Armitage to a residence at 46/1 Nong Bua, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi Province. After confirming his identity, the Immigration Bureau deemed him a threat under Section 12(7) of the Thai Immigration Act, B.E. 2522, and revoked his residency permit. He was subsequently detained at the Immigration Detention Centre in Suan Phlu, Bangkok, for extradition proceedings under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between Thailand and the United Kingdom.

 

This arrest highlights the joint efforts between Thai and UK authorities. The operation was coordinated by senior officials, including Justice Minister Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong and Immigration Bureau Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyalak. The collaboration extended to the DSI, whose officers provided crucial support in apprehending the fugitive.

 

With Armitage now in custody, legal proceedings are underway to extradite him to the UK to face charges related to Lamduan's death. Authorities on both sides remain committed to ensuring justice for the victim and her family.

 

This case underscores the importance of international cooperation in tackling transnational crimes and bringing long- standing fugitives to justice.

 

Previous article.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1286422-british-police-head-to-thailand-over-womans-2004-yorkshire-dales-death/

 

-- 2025-01-26

 

 

[Denim]

Good news for her family.

Nice cooperation between Thai and British police.

[smedly]

1 hour ago, Denim said:

Good news for her family.

Nice cooperation between Thai and British police.

just took them 20 years 

[BritManToo]

No evidence linking him to the death, so it's unlikely he will be extradited to the UK.

The BBC news on this story also suggests he will not have to return to the UK.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yd3j18xzwo

 

"He did not file an immigration petition meaning he no longer has the right to stay in Thailand and will either move back to the UK or go to another country, the BBC understands."

[Upnotover]

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

No evidence linking him to the death, so it's unlikely he will be extradited to the UK.

The BBC news on this story also suggests he will not have to return to the UK.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yd3j18xzwo

 

"He did not file an immigration petition meaning he no longer has the right to stay in Thailand and will either move back to the UK or go to another country, the BBC understands."

Indeed.  The story in the Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/33002118/thai-cops-detain-brit-husband-lady-hills-victim/ is also very different to the report on here.  Seems the plod only want to have a chat with him....no mention of arrest, etc. for the moment at least.

[proton]

Did not report her missing and told the kids she ran off with another man, very often the MO of a killer.

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, proton said:

Did not report her missing and told the kids she ran off with another man, very often the MO of a killer.

Fairly common for a Thai wife living in the west to run off with another man too!

There's no evidence of any wrong doing by anyone at all in this case, even her death was originally classed by the police and coroner as 'not suspicious'.

[proton]

Just now, BritManToo said:

Fairly common for a Thai wife living in the west to run off with another man too!

 

But not when there is no man to be found, then a body of the wife is

[Nick Carter icp]

9 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Indeed.  The story in the Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/33002118/thai-cops-detain-brit-husband-lady-hills-victim/ is also very different to the report on here.  Seems the plod only want to have a chat with him....no mention of arrest, etc. for the moment at least.

 

   They want to talk to him about a murder , seems like he's a suspect 

[Denim]

23 minutes ago, smedly said:

just took them 20 years 

 

He has been approached before but would not talk to the police.

 

David Armitage was located in 2019 and denied any involvement in his wife's death.^[24] The cause of death remains unknown, but the police have not ruled out murder.^[25]

In February 2023, British police travelled to Thailand to further their investigation.^[26] They had wanted to interview David Armitage, but he refused to speak to them.^[27]

 

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Lamduan_Armitage}

[bkk6060]

Very sad,  she looks like a cute girl in the photo.  "Lady of the hills" on her tombstone good they were able to identify her.

[Upnotover]

6 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   They want to talk to him about a murder , seems like he's a suspect 

Indeed, even though it's not been stated that way.  But to describe him as a fugitive living in hiding is not very accurate.

[PomPolo]

Watched the documentary on this very good and sad at the same time, very glad they got him in the end, he should just have sent her home that's what I did with my X when things weren't going great.  They haven't had him in court yet so innocent until proven guilty and all that stuff, however watching the documentary they would probably struggle to find a better suspect!
 

 

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

just took them 20 years 

 

Not really.

 

The body was not identified until some time in 2019.

The police would start looking after that.

 

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

For years, she remained unidentified and was dubbed "The Lady of the Hills." DNA testing in 2019 finally confirmed her identity,

 

[frank83628]

1 hour ago, proton said:

Did not report her missing and told the kids she ran off with another man, very often the MO of a killer.

Yes, Of cousre Colombo.

[smedly]

12 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

Not really.

 

The body was not identified until some time in 2019.

The police would start looking after that.

 

 

notice I did not mention Thai police,  DNA  has been around a long time why did it take UK Police such a long time

[stupidfarang]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

just took them 20 years 

5 years, if you read the news, she was unknown until DNA test in 2019. 

[CallumWK]

18 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

Not really.

 

The body was not identified until some time in 2019.

The police would start looking after that.

 

 

 

He was identified and his location known to UK and Thai police, 6 years ago.

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

This arrest highlights the joint efforts between Thai and UK authorities. The operation was coordinated by senior officials, including Justice Minister Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong and Immigration Bureau Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyalak. The collaboration extended to the DSI, whose officers provided crucial support in apprehending the fugitive.

No, it highlights severe incompetence and a failing system. he has been hiding in  Thailand? For how long? How did he get his residency, visa and permission to stay? Stands nothing about that he lived under false identity. Would have been easy to just follow his route based on passport. After that arrest him when trying to enter or leave Thailand. If not arrested at entry, then they have plenty of opportunity every time he do renewal of extension or a 90 day report.

Anyway, It´s never too late. Glad they finally arrested him, and that he might get what he deserve.

[BritManToo]

16 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No, it highlights severe incompetence and a failing system. he has been hiding in  Thailand? For how long? How did he get his residency, visa and permission to stay? Stands nothing about that he lived under false identity. Would have been easy to just follow his route based on passport. After that arrest him when trying to enter or leave Thailand. If not arrested at entry, then they have plenty of opportunity every time he do renewal of extension or a 90 day report.

Anyway, It´s never too late. Glad they finally arrested him, and that he might get what he deserve.

He worked at a Thai university using his own name for 20 years.

He had a work VISA, and completed the TM30 same as everyone else. He also renewed his British passport while here (maybe more than once), giving his Thai address.

Nobody arrested him as there was/is no evidence he ever committed any crime.

[Gottfrid]

21 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

He worked at a Thai university using his own name for 20 years.

He had a work VISA, and completed the TM30 same as everyone else. He also renewed his British passport while here (maybe more than once), giving his Thai address.

Nobody arrested him as there was/is no evidence he ever committed any crime.

Is no evidence? How can they arrest him now, then?

[BritManToo]

12 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Is no evidence? How can they arrest him now, then?

His VISA has been revoked, and he's awaiting deportation.

No arrest by the British authorities.

The Thais can do that to anyone of us at any time.

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

His VISA has been revoked, and he's awaiting deportation.

No arrest by the British authorities.

The Thais can do that to anyone of us at any time.

No, they can´t, and they don´t without a fair reason.

[Moonlover]

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Fairly common for a Thai wife living in the west to run off with another man too!

There's no evidence of any wrong doing by anyone at all in this case, even her death was originally classed by the police and coroner as 'not suspicious'.

Where is your evidence regarding Thai wives in the west running off other men?

 

The coroner did not record her death as 'not suspicious'. They recorded an 'open verdict'. The legal way of saying I/we don't know the cause of death.

 

The very fact that Armitage did not report his wife missing to the British police and took off to Thailand is suspicious in its own right and, at the very least he should be treated as a 'person of interest'. 
 

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

No, they can´t, and they don´t without a fair reason.

Did you forget the Swiss doctor kicker?

[ukrules]

6 hours ago, smedly said:

just took them 20 years 

 

Yes, why did it take so long?

 

[ukrules]

5 hours ago, stupidfarang said:

5 years, if you read the news, she was unknown until DNA test in 2019. 

 

Why did they not run the DNA test when they found her and could not identify the body?

DNA tests have been around for a long time now and were in routine use back then.

[simon43]

5 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

He was identified and his location known to UK and Thai police, 6 years ago.

Correct.  He wasn't 'hiding' in Kanchanaburi.  The authorities knew where he was all the time, but there was no evidence to arrest him. 

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Did you forget the Swiss doctor kicker?

No, but wasn´t that fair reason enough. We don´t need such idiots here.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Did you forget the Swiss doctor kicker?

No, but wasn´t that fair reason enough. We don´t need such idiots here.