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

[renaissanc]

Westerners really should do some research about what it's like in a Thai prison before they break the Law. Thai prisons, including the infamous airport Immigration Detention Centre, are hellish places to spend even a day in. Probably even cockroaches avoid them. I expect this man will spend the rest of his life in one.

[Old Croc]

As is usual, a vocal team of defense lawyers pop up on the forum when a miscreat is British. 

A few known details:

His wife's cause of death is apparently obscure, and investigations hampered by her identity being unknown until DNA was eventually available from concerned relatives.

The husbands failure to report his missing wife and refusal to cooperate with an investigation is suspicious. However, any evidence seemed circumstantial following his initial conract with police in 2019 and no action was taken against him at that time..  He doesn't appear to have been eluding,  he had a visa and his whereabouts were known. 

The sudden cancelation of the visa and subsequent arrest could be for reasons unlinked to his wifes death, but seems unlikely because of the involvement of British authorities. (DSI)

It suggests they have further, stronger, evidence against him. (I cant understand why it hasn't been shared with members of this forum!)

I would guess he wont have opportunity to go to a third country and he will be deported to Britain. 

 

 

[Denim]

17 minutes ago, renaissanc said:

Westerners really should do some research about what it's like in a Thai prison before they break the Law. Thai prisons, including the infamous airport Immigration Detention Centre, are hellish places to spend even a day in. Probably even cockroaches avoid them. I expect this man will spend the rest of his life in one.

 

The Airport Immigration Detention Centre is reasonable and only for temporary stay.  I think you mean the IDC in Suan Plu which really is an infamous hell hole.

 

The various articles reporting this case seem so far to be contradictory . They cannot all be correct.  One English language newspaper here reports :

 

The suspect will be deported and sent back to the UK to face legal proceedings.

 

This is not what has been said from the UK end of things.  So at the moment , as clear as mud,

 

Apparently , she did leave him in 2004 but returned to him after a month.

 

He himself has said :

 

'  

He said there had been a whispering campaign against him in the Thai media but added: "I didn't kill my wife. Absolutely not.

"I know the inferences are there but I'm just getting on with my life. It's been a long time."

[bristolgeoff]

If the comments said are true he was questioned released  and lived legal why or what happened now

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, wavodavo said:

I would say that the Thai authorities would not have got off their bum and gone have rounded him up and cancelled his visa etc. if the Brit Police didn't have a strong case . After all  there is nothing in for them  . He will be extradited to the U.K .and be charged with murder and face the court.From the video story I watched there is a lot of circumstantial evidence..didn't report her missing ...un-coperative etc. but is that enough ?? Ineresting that he wouldn't let the police talk to the daughter I bet she could help the Police. One thing is for sure the mongrol will lose that big fat guts if he"s held for a while in immigration detention in Bangkok.

No of course they wouldn´t. That´s why I answered @BritManToo, that they do not cancel visa or extensions on a whim, because they need a well grounded reason. Hopefully he get a bit humble after IDC check-in. Also, hopefully, they got some more this time and can prove enough evidence and circumstances to get him jailed. because the case is clear. Nobody that isn´t involved in a murder will be uncooperative, deny access to family members nor fail to report a loved one missing.

[spidermike007]

Good work. Nice result. Lock him up or snuff out his sorry life. 

[Docno]

8 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Good work. Nice result. Lock him up or snuff out his sorry life. 

No need for a trial? The investigation isn't even complete. Husband of Thai woman found dead in Yorkshire Dales detained

[BritManToo]

55 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No of course they wouldn´t. That´s why I answered @BritManToo, that they do not cancel visa or extensions on a whim, because they need a well grounded reason. Hopefully he get a bit humble after IDC check-in. Also, hopefully, they got some more this time and can prove enough evidence and circumstances to get him jailed. because the case is clear. Nobody that isn´t involved in a murder will be uncooperative, deny access to family members nor fail to report a loved one missing.

The problem being, UK police are only interested in a conviction, and don't really care if the convicted is guilty or innocent. When you co-operate with the UK police, they are only interested in getting you to incriminate yourself, therefore it's best not to co-operate in the first place.

 

I agree, it's a sad state of affairs that there is no justice in the UK, but better not to convict yourself.

My lawyers advice was always not to co-operate, and not to 'chat' with any police conducting any investigation. I left the UK on the advice of my (EU human rights) lawyer, so the police couldn't question me so easily (and frequently), it's gets old very quickly when they decide to collect you from your place of work for questioning, and don't even give you a lift back after (that's if you still have a job). I suspect the same advice was given to the husband in the OP.

[Nick Carter icp]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

The problem being, UK police are only interested in a conviction, and don't really care if the convicted is guilty or innocent. When you co-operate with the UK police, they are only interested in getting you to incriminate yourself, therefore it's best not to co-operate in the first place.

 

I agree, it's a sad state of affairs that there is no justice in the UK, but better not to convict yourself.

My lawyers advice was always not to co-operate, and not to 'chat' with any police conducting any investigation. I left the UK on the advice of my (EU human rights) lawyer, so the police couldn't question me so easily (and frequently), it's gets old very quickly when they decide to collect you from your place of work for questioning, and don't even give you a lift back after (that's if you still have a job). I suspect the same advice was given to the husband in the OP.

 

   What did the UK Police suspect you of doing ?

Did you do the things that the Police suspected you did ?

[wavodavo]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Armitage had 3 kids and I am wondering if now they have grown up they might have provided some evidence as to what happened including how he was treating/bashing his wife and were frightened to speak up before.

   But he hid from the Police and didn't speak with them when the UK Police visited Thailand 

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

What did the UK Police suspect you of doing ?

Did you do the things that the Police suspected you did ?

Double parking in front of a Mosque.

[Gottfrid]

20 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

The problem being, UK police are only interested in a conviction, and don't really care if the convicted is guilty or innocent. When you co-operate with the UK police, they are only interested in getting you to incriminate yourself, therefore it's best not to co-operate in the first place.

 

I agree, it's a sad state of affairs that there is no justice in the UK, but better not to convict yourself.

My lawyers advice was always not to co-operate, and not to 'chat' with any police conducting any investigation. I left the UK on the advice of my (EU human rights) lawyer, so the police couldn't question me so easily (and frequently), it's gets old very quickly when they decide to collect you from your place of work for questioning, and don't even give you a lift back after (that's if you still have a job). I suspect the same advice was given to the husband in the OP.

Seems like you have a lot of experience in this field. How come the police wanted to question you soo frequently? I assume, that was not totally out of no reason at all. And, of course your lawyer tells you not to talk. That´s what they always do, as that is their way to protect you until enough evidence is piling up against you and there is time for a plea deal. That´s like why, they are called your lawyer, as they are there to protect you.

[Samh]

19 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Seems like you have a lot of experience in this field. How come the police wanted to question you soo frequently? I assume, that was not totally out of no reason at all. And, of course your lawyer tells you not to talk. That´s what they always do, as that is their way to protect you until enough evidence is piling up against you and there is time for a plea deal. That´s like why, they are called your lawyer, as they are there to protect you.

Even Axel Rudakubana was considered innocent and until he changed his plea to guilty. And he was treated with kid gloves. Issued a nice picture of him as an innocent angelic choir boy.

[Dcheech]

4 hours ago, wavodavo said:

I would say that the Thai authorities would not have got off their bum and gone have rounded him up and cancelled his visa etc. if the Brit Police didn't have a strong case

It has taken the Brit police twenty years to get off their collective flaccid bums and finally do something. Now, I have always been  impressed by the Thai Police's laziness & general incompetence, but I doubt they can match

The Yorkshire Plod  .... in this case.

[Justanotherone]

is there a country near TH that does not extradite? asking for a friend, looooooooooooool

[Snackbar]

They all do one eventually, thank the lord

[proton]

103 today

 

 

[kwaussie]

We all know how close Thai families can be so cant understand why her Thai family didnt try and find her sooner!

[Peterphuket]

6 hours ago, Jack Hammer said:

I would not say fairly common for a Thai lady to run off with another man, but it does happen as in other nationalities. One thing I have noticed here in Thailand is Thai ladies have a very short bereavement after the loss of their western husbands. Two cases I know personally. Case one.  European guy left Thai lady an absolute fortune, built a mansion, although he never seen it completed. He bought land, tractors, pick ups, you name it  he bought it. Six weeks after his demise she was off on a holiday with a Western guy.  
Case two. Thai lady with Australian guy for 12 years left her some means and a modern car. She went back to her village for six weeks, came back to the old residence, two weeks after that, working in a bar, hooks up with a Western guy and she takes him back to her village and he is building her a home. Two months after the  guy is dead  she’s back on the game. 

Although I have lived with a Thai woman for over 15 years, I can confirm what you have observed; apart from being a completely different culture, I also feel that 'love' is experienced differently by the Thais than it is by us Westerners.

 

[black tabby12345]

Good news.

The killer who sent someone to the hell.

Not it's his turn to face the same(or even worse).

In  BKK Hilton, he would certainly regret he is still alive...

 

Wait a minute, the case took place in UK, not here?

So no death penalty or harsh enough condition while doing his time behind bars.

 

How disappointing...

[Freddy42OZ]

On 1/26/2025 at 9:28 AM, bkk6060 said:

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.

Which photo?  

If you are basing your comment on the photo in the thread below then maybe a trip to an Optician is in order!

 

 

[MangoKorat]

7 hours ago, Old Croc said:

As is usual, a vocal team of defense lawyers pop up on the forum when a miscreat is British. 

A few known details:

His wife's cause of death is apparently obscure, and investigations hampered by her identity being unknown until DNA was eventually available from concerned relatives.

The husbands failure to report his missing wife and refusal to cooperate with an investigation is suspicious. However, any evidence seemed circumstantial following his initial conract with police in 2019 and no action was taken against him at that time..  He doesn't appear to have been eluding,  he had a visa and his whereabouts were known. 

The sudden cancelation of the visa and subsequent arrest could be for reasons unlinked to his wifes death, but seems unlikely because of the involvement of British authorities. (DSI)

It suggests they have further, stronger, evidence against him. (I cant understand why it hasn't been shared with members of this forum!)

I would guess he wont have opportunity to go to a third country and he will be deported to Britain. 

 

 

Before making your comments and attempting to be sarcastic, maybe you should have read the entire thread - especially the statement supplied by another member from North Yorkshire Police where it appears they know nothing about any extradition request - despite what is stated in the report.

 

Here, in a post by MicroB yesterday:

 

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of the detention in Thailand of David Armitage, the husband of Lamduan Armitage. We understand it relates to his visa status and residence in Thailand and is entirely a matter for the Immigration Service of the Royal Thai Police.

“Should Mr Armitage be deported, we understand that he will have a choice as to where he goes, which will include return to the UK. Should that occur, we will again make every effort to speak to him about the investigation."

 

Noboby is trying to be a defence lawyer in support of a fellow countryman, they are simply pointing out the law and the fact that the UK police have been hampered by a lack of evidence in this case from the beginning.  Whilst it seems highly likely that this man killed his Thai wife, there must be evidence and the right person must be convicted.

 

In a case last year, a man spent 17 years in prison for rape based on dodgy evidence. Eventually, DNA evidence proved the rapist was a different person.

[Jabberwocky]

How likely is it that a man just shrugs his shoulders and says: "Ok, she ran away with someone else"? I also doubt that he worked at a Thai university "for 20 years", he might have done that briefly (common retirement age here was 60 until recently).

 

Anyway, the main disappointment seems to be the lack of engagement of her family to push the search from the beginning. This would not be atypical for Thais, in my mind it is some sort of autism. If I'd disappear, my family would most probably stir up a lot of trouble. Thus this may be another example of how low some Thai think of the individual human life.

[MangoKorat]

3 minutes ago, Jabberwocky said:

I also doubt that he worked at a Thai university "for 20 years", he might have done that briefly (common retirement age here was 60 until recently).

Plenty of teachers work well beyond the Thai retirement age.  They are unlikely to be given a job if they are over 60 before starting work but if they turn 60 during their employment, its up to their employer.

[MangoKorat]

7 hours ago, renaissanc said:

I expect this man will spend the rest of his life in one.

On what charge?  His alleged offence was committed in the UK, Thailand has no jurisdiction over crimes committed in the UK.

[Robespierre]

On 1/26/2025 at 7:16 AM, Denim said:

Good news for her family.

Nice cooperation between Thai and British police.

How great it would be for Thai police to cooperate with Interpol to track down boss, the ReD Bull brat, and get him back to account for the death of the policeman 10 years ago.

[Robespierre]

4 hours ago, kwaussie said:

We all know how close Thai families can be so cant understand why her Thai family didnt try and find her sooner!

Poverty maybe.

[MangoKorat]

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

The problem being, UK police are only interested in a conviction, and don't really care if the convicted is guilty or innocent. When you co-operate with the UK police, they are only interested in getting you to incriminate yourself, therefore it's best not to co-operate in the first place.

Totally agree. What many people don't realise is that to the police, its just a job. They are given a case to deal with and they don't care who they convict, as long as they can close the case.  Evidence for my claims:

 

Andrew Malkinson - 17 years in prison for rape. Many appeals, all refused. Last year DNA evidence surfaced that proved the rapist was a different person.

 

The Post Office Horizon Scandal - hundreds of Post office employees convicted of stealing money that turned out to be a software glitch.  The very fact that so many of them were shoutinng their case from the rooftops and the similarities in the circumstances of their 'offences' should have set alarm bells ringing - there was clearly something wong.

 

People have even been executed for crimes they didn't commit.  OK, it was many years ago but the man is still dead. Timothy Evans, wrongly convictedof murdering his wife and daughter.

 

During his trial, Evans accused his downstairs neighbour, John Christie, who was the chief prosecution witness in the case against him, of committing the murders.

Three years after Evans's execution, Christie was found to be a serial killer who had murdered several other women in the same house, including his own wife Ethel. Christie was himself sentenced to death, and while awaiting execution, he confessed to having murdered Mrs. Evans. An official inquiry concluded in 1966 that Christie had murdered Evans's daughter Geraldine, and Evans was granted a posthumous pardon. The High Court dismissed proceedings to officially quash Evans's murder conviction in 2004 on the grounds of the cost and resources that would be involved, but acknowledged that Evans did not murder his wife or his daughter, 54 years after his wrongful execution.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Evans

 

That's just three, there have been thousands.

 

Between June 2019 and March 2020 there were 1366 successful appeals against conviction in the UK.

 

https://www.law.ac.uk/about/press-releases/wrongful-convictions/

[geisha]

Surely if a family member goes missing you report it to the police?  I don’t believe him.

[oldestswinger]

2 hours ago, MangoKorat said:

The Post Office Horizon Scandal

I don't think that this case is useful in your assertion that British police are only interested in convictions. As I understand it, the Post Office have their own investigative and prosecution teams and therefore the police were not involved.