Norwegian Dies After Knife Attack

[espinoza]

Dishes massive criticism against the police after the murder of Phuket

PATTAYA / OSLO (Aftenposten.no): Lawyer Bjørn André Gulstad and Brynjar Meling is highly critical of police for the murder of Norwegian Simen Sparre Knudsen in Thailand has not yet been resolved, and warns against Norwegian tourists missing the rule of law in Thailand.

There have been quite frightening to see how the rights in the community is resolved, in terms of how many foreignersthat live there, "said Meling to Aftenposten.no.

Lawyer Meling and his colleague Bjørn André Gulstad dishes massive criticism against the police in connection with the failed investigation after the killing of Norwegian Simen Sparre Knudsen (47) in Phuket in Thailand in September 2007.

Lack of commitment from both Norwegian and Thai police, and poor information flow from the government, makes Gulstad go so far that he will also warn Norwegian Thailand-tourists about the lack of legal protection in the country.

For about five months ago was Lawfirm Sjödin, Meling & Co. Contacted by Knudsens sister, Pia Sparre Hellenes, who asked them to investigate the homicide case. Now Gulstad, who daily work as a legal investigator, have been in Thailand for two weeks, among other things, to be able to investigate the circumstances surrounding Knudsens death. Aftenposten.no met him in Pattaya in Thailand at the end of his stay.

The family wants to know whats happened, why, and how it has happened. Simply to get as much clarity in the matter as possible, "says Bjørn André Gulstad to Aftenposten.no.

Sailor Simen Sparre Knudsen, who lived in Thailand, was killed in September 2007. He was on his way home on the motorbike to Rawai on the island of Phuket in the middle of the night when he was attacked and killed by knife wounds along the road.

Thai police quickly arrested two young boys, but much later indicated that they were not the perpetrators. One was quickly transferred to a youth prison in connection with other offenses. The other was released. Police hunted on a third boy, but there are indications that he was not involved. Now police have no other suspects - to the family's great despair. The case is unsolved.

When media coverage dimishing, and Thai police began to lose interest in the matter, the Norwegian authorities behave quite passive, in Gulstad`s sense.

- Norwegian police had a recent update on the matter in February 2008, which not said anything new in relation to what we already knew in September 2007. When we contacted the police in 2009, we were told that they had not heard anything new about the case. This means in reality that the case has been slighted for a year and a half, Gulstad said.

- The particular thing about Thailand is that they have a foothold there through the communications man. We would like the Norwegian authorities had taken advantage of this to ensure propelling of the investigation of the death of a Norwegian, says Meling.

Aftenposten.no has confronted the head of the investigation in Thailand with the criticism that has been directed at him. He turns, however, from the criticism, and blame it on the Thai court.

- The reason that no one has been convicted of the murder, is that the court not accepted our evidence, "said investigation leader Sirisak Wasasiri at Chalong Police Station to Aftenposten.no.

He tells that it took place in parallel to separate investigations of the homicide case, but that the two investigation groups reached different results. The investigation groups failed to agree with each other, and there was a conflict within the police. He maintains, however, that it is the two arrested boys who are guilty of murder, and points out that, among other things, they are mentally ill. He does not want to comment on whether the crime technical investigation has been inadequate.

Warns Norwegian tourists

Gulstad believe that the police passivity is a danger for the security of Norwegian tourists in Thailand.

- This means that citizens are killed in Thailand without the police making a proper investigation, and it is a very serious situation, says Bjørn André Gulstad.

[JohnGotti]

So a farang is very mad at Thai people? I doubt anyone in Thailand actually cares.

[sriracha john]

MODS:

In order for completeness, continuity, and non-duplication, could this thread and OP please be merged as an update to the pre-existing thread on this topic:

Norwegian Dies After Knife Attack

Thank you.

Edited May 23, 2009 by george

[george]

MODS:

In order for completeness, continuity, and non-duplication, could this thread and OP please be merged as an update to the pre-existing thread on this topic:

Thank you.

Threads merged.

[RickBradford]

Better still, open a general topic called 'Murdered Farang Stories Here'.

[espinoza]

The case is not solved althoug it was stated earlier that it was.

[maluko]

When media coverage dimishing, and Thai police began to lose interest in the matter,

Well IMHO not really surprising !

Thanks for the update of that sad story!

More than one year and still nothing unless gibberish between court and police ! And the worst is that the 3 boys may stay free untill the next murder...

[Valentine]

If any of you have followed the story of the Canadian in Pattaya allegedly murdered by his Thai wife for the insurance money or she allegedly payed someone to do it. I guess if guilty she is as much as a murderer as the one who actually committed the deed. Anyway, reading the threads on this topic many seem to agree that the only way to get any semblance of justice when the police lose interest, or find it in their best interests to have the whole thing forgotten, the only way is to continue to exert pressure from all areas e.g. keep it in the news, foreign governments pressure on Thai authorities, etc.

In defence of the police, if this can be considered a defence, is that they are woefully understaffed & lacking resources for the population of Phuket which I reckon is close to one million compared to the official figures of about 350,000 (I think there are about twice that number of vehicles registered here). All funds whether it be for police or infrastructure must come from Bangkok & disbursements are based upon the offical population figures, never mind how much tax revenue is generated from Phuket.