Two Tourists In Pai Shot By A Police Officer

[TAWP]

FACT: a male civilian tried to take a gun away from a armed cop. 3 bullets getting discharged. male civilian wounded fatally. a 2nd person get a non lifethreatening wound

It is a FACT you say? Please provide evidence that this is a FACT.

the 'HE RUN AWAY' - SO HE IS GUILTY - HANG HIM HIGH. is for sure a complete chain of evidence. no doubt. not.

how about that he just could not act rational after there was a fight, he shoot two people, he is in stress, in shock, lost control. he is a human beeing and a cop and the worst thing he can imagine just happen. accidental shooting, two people down, bleeding.

because it was a shot in the chest that is a prove that it was a aimed shot? NO. No prove for that.

it just a possibility, a variation of many other ways what really happen in Pai.

we don't know it. we just can try to view from every angle. concern details, trifles and peanuts.

and still don't know what really happen.

with 'enough said' and ''pathetic little man'' comments, someone maybe can vent his anger but is not a way to come to a final conclusion.

Fine, let's pretend he is just a lousy cop. Being fired from his job is then the least that I expect to happen to him.

Let's face it, accidental discharges and 'justified shootings' that still go to trial exists in many other countries. Have yet to hear about any big cases recently where the police do their 'job' and then run away. Not in the west at least. Not involving trained police officers.

If a trained medic in the army can give first aid to their sworn enemy that they have just shot, even though he might have shot his friends, then a police officer should be able to call for backup or an ambulance...

He acted like a crock since...

[Artfullmover]

There's been a fair bit of random drug testing in Pai. The present Mae Hong Son governor is reported to take the drug issue quite seriously.

It was reported earlier in the thread that Reisig and her previous boyfriend were drug tested and declared clean by the police after their quarrel in Bebop.

I guess I have to be the one to point out the "Defaults" in the Thai drug problem. I really hoped it would have come out earlier on and by someone else.

1. There are many havens through out the country were the " Falang" and the "associates " are able to indulge. The "LOCAL" authorities for what ever reason (you dont need to be a rocket scientist to work it out) do conduct drug test and searches but mainly on ..... well I will leave that one for the immagination as well. I could give referance to quite a few places that have "crackdowns" but dispite that the places are populated with falang "party goers".

2. The "Thai Authority's" I speak of are NOT the local authorities, they are the ones that come in and clean up/out the mess. Im sure many of us (falang) dont even know we have their attension as it starts well and trully under the radar.

3. One thing about these "party areas" is they DO go through periods of restrictions. These are BAD times for the friends of "Mr Flinstone". After having him in there lives on a regular occasion and finding out he's left town people can and do become very unpredictable, volitile, agressive and violent without so much as a second thought.

Another poster pointed out the problems with alcohol and although I agree 200% I feel this scenario may be somewhat different.

I really do believe drugs ( more so lack of - withdrawl) may have played a big part in this tragety. I really would like to hear some comments from the locals in Pia about my opinions.

[geriatrickid]

There's been a fair bit of random drug testing in Pai. The present Mae Hong Son governor is reported to take the drug issue quite seriously. It was reported earlier in the thread that Reisig and her previous boyfriend were drug tested and declared clean by the police after their quarrel in Bebop.

A point worth stressing. Had the parties been previously found with drugs, I believe we'd be hearing now how these were no good druggies etc. As the last drug test in similar circumstances was negative then this suggests that there is no strong indicator of a drug angle. Speculation and assuming is not sufficient grounds to say otherwise and damage the parties characters. However, until the blood tests are released (and I doubt we will see them) we won't know for sure. Until then, it is required that we give the parties their basic right of innocence (of drug use) until proven otherwise.

[sabaijai]

2. there is fight between them.

3. the fight is focused on getting control over the gun

We DON'T know that.

At what point do we 'know'? There are witnesses who support these statements willing to go on record, when and if the case goes to court, and for the press, regardless. I'm not drawing any definitive conclusions myself, until/unless the testimonies become public record.

[keyman]

CALGARY - An autopsy has been completed on a Calgary man who was shot and killed in Thailand.

Coroner Pat Job said an autopsy Monday confirmed that Leo Del Pinto, 25, died from two gunshot wounds.

She said there was one bullet in the right cheek and one in the abdomen.

Del Pinto's body arrived back in Canada early Saturday.

On Jan. 6, Del Pinto and his friend Carly Reisig were returning home from a bar in Pai when an off-duty Thai police officer approached them.

Del Pinto was shot in the head and chest and later died. Reisig was shot in the chest and is recovering in a Thai hospital.

http://www.dose.ca/news/story.html?id=96e3...77-24cff1024d3a

[keyman]

9. canadian officials don't make a fuzz about (= there is nothing to make a fuzz about)

Sounds like fuzz to me:

CALGARY -- While the grieving family of Leo Del Pinto searches for answers into his killing in Thailand, an official with the Canadian government says it is as much in the dark about the investigation as they are.

The 24-year-old who wanted to begin a new life in Thailand as a teacher, was shot in the face and chest in Pai in the northern part of that country Jan. 6 while with his friend Carly Reisig, 24, of Chilliwack, B.C. She was also shot and sent to hospital with a bullet next to her heart.

A Thai police officer, off-duty at the time of the incident, has been charged with premeditated murder.

The Del Pintos, left to prod the Canadian government themselves for answers, have voiced their disappointment with the lack of information on the investigation into the shooting.

But Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Bernard Nguyen said RCMP will get involved in the investigation if asked by Thai officials, who are staying tight-lipped about the case.

"When you have an ongoing investigation, you don't release information," he said, adding Canadian officials are doing all they can to assist the two families, such as with transporting Del Pinto's body, which arrived in Calgary on Saturday.

As well, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Helena Guergis sent a letter to her Thai counterpart expressing an interest that a "thorough, transparent and timely investigation be conducted into the shooting," Nguyen added.

An autopsy on Del Pinto's body is scheduled for today and his funeral will be later in the week.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/20...771564-sun.html

[Artfullmover]

There's been a fair bit of random drug testing in Pai. The present Mae Hong Son governor is reported to take the drug issue quite seriously. It was reported earlier in the thread that Reisig and her previous boyfriend were drug tested and declared clean by the police after their quarrel in Bebop.

A point worth stressing. Had the parties been previously found with drugs, I believe we'd be hearing now how these were no good druggies etc. As the last drug test in similar circumstances was negative then this suggests that there is no strong indicator of a drug angle. Speculation and assuming is not sufficient grounds to say otherwise and damage the parties characters. However, until the blood tests are released (and I doubt we will see them) we won't know for sure. Until then, it is required that we give the parties their basic right of innocence (of drug use) until proven otherwise.

Well said. My guess is at the end of the day the judge of the court will be thinking along the same lines. And from what I can gather he/she would be sceptical of whatever was presented as the Facts/Truth. How would you go making a desision on that right or wrong? If the cop didnt go down almost every falang would be using this case as a example of just another coruption in the justice system. One must think on how hard it could be for a Judge in Thailand on a trail like this. But I guess if the cop didnt go down most falang would see him as part of the coruption.

[DavidLeeRoth]

The Canadian pathologist says Del Pinto died from gunshots to the cheek and abdomen. That's a little bit different then dying from "sharpshooter" bullets through the mouth and heart as we all thought happened due to the original reports

[meom]

The Canadian pathologist says Del Pinto died from gunshots to the cheek and abdomen. That's a little bit different then dying from "sharpshooter" bullets through the mouth and heart as we all thought happened due to the original reports

Not only that; initial reports said that one bullet entered the mouth and came out through the shoulder while now it seems that is not the case.

Maybe the coroner can establish the trajectory of the bullet in the cheek; if it's upward it would give credence to the policeman story that he fired while falling down.

Edited January 15, 2008 by meom

[DavidLeeRoth]

Although I don't believe the officer is telling the full truth (and never will), this lends credibility to his arguement that Del Pinto was shot in a struggle. These were not two perfectly placed kill-shots as we were led to believe originally.

[kat]

2. there is fight between them.

3. the fight is focused on getting control over the gun

We DON'T know that.

At what point do we 'know'? There are witnesses who support these statements willing to go on record, when and if the case goes to court, and for the press, regardless. I'm not drawing any definitive conclusions myself, until/unless the testimonies become public record.

Actually, I had forgotten that Reisig had also offered this as an explanation earlier, and that it was corroborated by both accounts. I am now too busy to go through this enormous thread to find it, so my apologies. I think we know when it has been corroborated by both, and the forensics report supports those accounts, which is what we seem to have now.

What we don't know at this point (except through local witnesses and second-hand accounts), is whether or not Uthai did indeed identify himself as a police officer. However, it has been reported that he was inebriated, off duty, and out of uniform.

The Canadian pathologist says Del Pinto died from gunshots to the cheek and abdomen. That's a little bit different then dying from "sharpshooter" bullets through the mouth and heart as we all thought happened due to the original reports

Yes.

*Added - One other thing: we can deduce that Del Pinto's wounds were a result of a scuffle, but not Reisig's; there is still no explanation for that one.

Edited January 15, 2008 by kat

[BarryMan]

The Canadian pathologist says Del Pinto died from gunshots to the cheek and abdomen. That's a little bit different then dying from "sharpshooter" bullets through the mouth and heart as we all thought happened due to the original reports

Not only that; initial reports said that one bullet entered the mouth and came out through the shoulder while now it seems that is not the case.

Maybe the coroner can establish the trajectory of the bullet in the cheek; if it's upward it would give credence to the policeman story that he fired while falling down.

I wonder if we'll be getting a fuller report later with such details. The trajectory of the second bullet, the one in the abdomen, would also be worth noting. The cop claims three rounds fired off quickly from a non-standing position, while Reisig claims he took deliberate aim and fired the second shot into his heart (which the Calgary autopsy now shows was not where Del Pinto was shot). This from Drummond's first story on the case: "A young Canadian woman told yesterday how a Thai policeman shot dead her best friend in Pai in the North, then shot another bullet into his heart as he lay on the ground." (before turning the gun on her and firing)

Certainly given the shock of the situation (blurring things further would be the alcohol), I would think that not remembering exactly where Del Pinto was shot the second time would be understandable, and if it could be proven that the policeman shot Del Pinto from a standing position, while Del Pinto was lying on the ground following the first shot, it would give significant credence to Reisig's version of events. If on the other hand that is proven not to be the case, Reisig's account of things would lose major credibility, and Uthai's version -- or something closer to it Than Reisig's, say a violent altercation from the gun in which he fired shots because the couple was going after his gun, or an altercation that turned physical and saw the cop pull his weapon and fire off three shots either in anger or in a misguided attempt at self defence -- might hold out.

Before I get flamed to oblivion, this is of course speculation. I'm happy to see that some science is finally coming forward on this one that can help us impartially get a look at what truly happened, beyond the kneejerk reactions. Thai forensics has yet to come forward with their own report. It'll be interesting to see more details revealed through that, and also a fuller version of what the Canadians have to say.

[bulmercke]

This is a truly shocking case - as everyone knows -

Give a man a gun and he becomes ten feet tall in any confrontation -

Both victims were shot ruthlessly and unmercifully in the chest -

He wanted them to die - this was a calculated shooting -

Unfortunately the Thai people are the product of a feudal and repressive past which accounts for the total absence of any eye witnesses willing to come forward with any credible testimony -

The Thai police are a closed society - and racist - in the main - there has been no indication otherwise in this case -

Have the local constabulary issued a public apology? No - of course not!

They will not betray one of their own unless there are mitigating circumstances - lesse majeste charges - assaulting or killing one of their own - or a person of influence - or if they are under extreme pressure to make an arrest because of the embarrassment it will bring upon the force - and unfortunately in this case it appears that this will not be the case!

This was, without doubt, a serious attempt to terminate the lives of two young persons - and really for no good reason -

No wonder the Thai police - with some exceptions - are generally perceived - as a barrow-full of bad apples.

Also don't place too much confidence in the findings of the coroner - they are notoriously biased and compromised - particularly in the matter of tourists shot by police officers -

Concerning the Katherine Horton case - Christmas 2005 - the local police were allegedly heard discussing amongst themselves - the day after the incident - by the locals - how best they could cover up the vicious rape and murder of this poor girl.

Get a reality check folks......this is amazing Thailand!

Edited January 15, 2008 by bulmercke

[Foggy Bottom]

THAI POLICE QUOTE OF THE DECADE

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...t&p=1763468

Slain frogman identified

........The victim Mr Orberson, 50, was rushed to Phuket International Hospital, where he was initially kept in the Intensive Care Unit for a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

He was released on Saturday, before he could be questioned by police.

Chalong Police say they know where Mr Oberson is and that they plan to question him soon. They will have to file murder charges against him as a matter of procedure, though they expect the charges to be dropped eventually because all of the available evidence indicates that he was acting in self-defense........

From the Phuket Gazette

Now substitute the name "Mr Orberson" for the name "Sgt Uthai" and re-read the above quote then the whole of this thread again.

Gaz

[thaigene2]

Some news from Pai.

1. It has been confirmed by police, and corroborated by two civilian witnesses willing to go on record, that on the previous occasion where Carly Reisig struck local police, she had been fighting with her former Thai boyfriend, Nui.

According to the owner of Be-Bop, the fight began inside his bar around midnight. He called the police, who arrived and asked the couple to leave the bar. Carly pushed one of the officers and kneed another, according to the owner and another witness, a local Thai musician (who she also struck, during the melee). The police then escorted Carly and Nui outside to cool off. Outside between Be-Bop and Grooveyard, they continued screaming at each other according to an American resident of Pai who was outside when the events took place. Police arrested the couple and took them to the station for drug tests. The tests were negative and the couple was released shortly thereafter, uncharged. According to the police, and to eyewitnesses at the station that night, the police asked them both to leave town and never come back. They left town and Nui never came back. Reisig soon returned.

2. There is one witness from Daeng's claiming that Feun (Reisig's current boyfriend) started the fight that resulted in Sgt Maj Uthai's approach. This witness is willing to go on record and be named, and has no apparent connection to the police.

3. A Canadian journalist here (now in BKK) told one of the editors of the Pai Post that the police allowed him to handle the policeman's pistol, which had already been dusted for prints and remanded as evidence. He said it was a double-action semi-automatic fitted with a hair trigger.

4. So far none of the foreign journalists who have come to Pai to follow this story have stayed longer than one night.

Well I hope some of my former attackers see the light.

Yes the light is shining very brightly on someone who clearly has a self-interest to protect the reputation of "Pai" and is semi-protected by her quasi-affiliation to this site. Few have any doubts now.

[sabaijai]

Both victims were shot ruthlessly and unmercifully in the chest -

He wanted them to die - this was a calculated shooting -

Care to cite your source(s) for this information?

[thaigene2]

Sorry, zero sympathy and I won't apologise for that. Thailand or anywhere else in the world really does not need them.

Sorry moderators, if I'm not allowed to be here. I'm not an expatriot, and I don't live in Thailand.

I'm here because Leo Del Pinto was my cousin. I've been keeping up with this thread since it was 12 pages long, and I am pretty sure I have read every post in it excepting posts added today. Until this one, I have not felt the overwhelming need to reply.

Obviously, I know that anyone can say they are anyone, and no one has any reason to believe I am who I say I am. Not that it matters who I am, given the point I am going to try to make. It just puts it in a better context for people to know where it's coming from.

My question for yorkman here, or anyone with similar sentiments, is how can you possibly believe you can make the claim that Leo (or anyone, really) was not needed by anyone, anywhere? Human beings are social creatures. We need to be connected to people; we rely on those people, and we need those people to rely on us, to some extent. Everything we do revolves around the connections we have with others, in one way or another. How dare you presume that you have the authority or knowledge to be able to justifiably say that no one needed Leo? I can't speak for my family, I can't speak for other people who knew Leo but are unknown to me, I can only speak for myself. And speaking for myself, I say that I needed Leo. What do I mean by that? I mean my life is less rich without him in this world. I mean that, even though he was thousands of miles away and I wasn't seeing him regularly anyway, the knowledge that I will never see him again makes me aware that my life is less than it could have been, without him.

I'm not going to get into an argument about whose fault it was or what really happened. I'm not going to pretend to be able to provide reliable insight into what happened that night. The point is that it doesn't matter what happened that night, for what I have said to hold true. I don't care whether or not Leo contributed to the situation that arose. I'm not trying to throw blame. All I am saying is that if you believe you can honestly state that no one needed him, you are either delusional or unbelievably arrogant.

Sorry for your loss Danielle - I hope that shuts up some of these moronic posters. I encourage you to pressure the Canadian Foreign Ministry to speak up. Believe me they won't do that unless you bring pressure to bear on them. Don;t let them tell you that everyting is being done. From experience I tell you that is BS. Make noise in Canada - make noise here (if you can - but that is quite difficult because the Thai media are nationalistic and conformist - the Canadian Embassy here will play that for all it's worth - knowing they can ride it out til all quiets down). LOOK at how many people have read this thread and, like you, posted! Look at the big deal made when the "Persian"-canadian journalist was killed in Iran a few years ago...STAMP YOUR FEET - call the National post or the Globe (who probably won't listen) and say you are being ignored cause you're from the West...believe me - you can make a difference - but time is NOT on your side. Act now!

[thaigene2]

Both victims were shot ruthlessly and unmercifully in the chest -

He wanted them to die - this was a calculated shooting -

Care to cite your source(s) for this information?

Can you please state, once and for all, your self-interest in the opposing view point?

[bulmercke]

THAI POLICE QUOTE OF THE DECADE

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...t&p=1763468

Slain frogman identified

........The victim Mr Orberson, 50, was rushed to Phuket International Hospital, where he was initially kept in the Intensive Care Unit for a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

He was released on Saturday, before he could be questioned by police.

Chalong Police say they know where Mr Oberson is and that they plan to question him soon. They will have to file murder charges against him as a matter of procedure, though they expect the charges to be dropped eventually because all of the available evidence indicates that he was acting in self-defense........

From the Phuket Gazette

Now substitute the name "Mr Orberson" for the name "Sgt Uthai" and re-read the above quote then the whole of this thread again.

Gaz

This is another case that stinks!

[thaigene2]

9. canadian officials don't make a fuzz about (= there is nothing to make a fuzz about)

Sounds like fuzz to me:

CALGARY -- While the grieving family of Leo Del Pinto searches for answers into his killing in Thailand, an official with the Canadian government says it is as much in the dark about the investigation as they are.

The 24-year-old who wanted to begin a new life in Thailand as a teacher, was shot in the face and chest in Pai in the northern part of that country Jan. 6 while with his friend Carly Reisig, 24, of Chilliwack, B.C. She was also shot and sent to hospital with a bullet next to her heart.

A Thai police officer, off-duty at the time of the incident, has been charged with premeditated murder.

The Del Pintos, left to prod the Canadian government themselves for answers, have voiced their disappointment with the lack of information on the investigation into the shooting.

But Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Bernard Nguyen said RCMP will get involved in the investigation if asked by Thai officials, who are staying tight-lipped about the case.

"When you have an ongoing investigation, you don't release information," he said, adding Canadian officials are doing all they can to assist the two families, such as with transporting Del Pinto's body, which arrived in Calgary on Saturday.

As well, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Helena Guergis sent a letter to her Thai counterpart expressing an interest that a "thorough, transparent and timely investigation be conducted into the shooting," Nguyen added.

An autopsy on Del Pinto's body is scheduled for today and his funeral will be later in the week.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/20...771564-sun.html

Man I can hear the wind sucking from their pucker-holes from here in Thailand, can't you? CANADA GROW SOME BALLS AND SPEAK OUT!

[sabaijai]

Both victims were shot ruthlessly and unmercifully in the chest -

He wanted them to die - this was a calculated shooting -

Care to cite your source(s) for this information?

Can you please state, once and for all, your self-interest in the opposing view point?

Opposed to what? My self interest is in learning the truth. And yours?

[bulmercke]

There's been a fair bit of random drug testing in Pai. The present Mae Hong Son governor is reported to take the drug issue quite seriously. It was reported earlier in the thread that Reisig and her previous boyfriend were drug tested and declared clean by the police after their quarrel in Bebop.

A point worth stressing. Had the parties been previously found with drugs, I believe we'd be hearing now how these were no good druggies etc. As the last drug test in similar circumstances was negative then this suggests that there is no strong indicator of a drug angle. Speculation and assuming is not sufficient grounds to say otherwise and damage the parties characters. However, until the blood tests are released (and I doubt we will see them) we won't know for sure. Until then, it is required that we give the parties their basic right of innocence (of drug use) until proven otherwise.

Well said. My guess is at the end of the day the judge of the court will be thinking along the same lines. And from what I can gather he/she would be sceptical of whatever was presented as the Facts/Truth. How would you go making a desision on that right or wrong? If the cop didnt go down almost every falang would be using this case as a example of just another coruption in the justice system. One must think on how hard it could be for a Judge in Thailand on a trail like this. But I guess if the cop didnt go down most falang would see him as part of the coruption.

Why this inordinate interest in what drugs the poor victims may or may not have consumed?

Doesn't anyone realise that locally brewed Thai whisky and beer is a hundred times more potent and dangerous.

[bulmercke]

Both victims were shot ruthlessly and unmercifully in the chest -

He wanted them to die - this was a calculated shooting -

Care to cite your source(s) for this information?

Can you please state, once and for all, your self-interest in the opposing view point?

Opposed to what? My self interest is in learning the truth. And yours?

Canadian man shot and killed by police in Pai, Thailand

Canadian shot to death in Thailand planned to settle there

Gwendolyn Richards, CanWest News Service

Published: Monday, January 07, 2008

CALGARY — Leo Del Pinto fell in love with Thailand after a trip to the tropical country last year.

But the friendly and easygoing Calgarian’s plans to settle in a northern Thailand town ended tragically as he was shot and killed only days after arriving in the country to start his new life…

His death has devastated his family, said spokesman Rob Fortune, who is engaged to one of Del Pinto’s sisters.

Del Pinto, 25, and Carly Reisig, 24, a resident of Vancouver, were both hit with bullets Sunday outside a bar in the northern town of Pai.

Del Pinto was shot twice and died instantly, while Reisig, who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, is recovering from surgery and is now in intensive care at a Thai hospital.

Meanwhile, a Thai police officer has been charged in the death.

Speaking from her hospital bed Monday, Reisig said a Thai man punched her as she and Del Pinto were returning home from a bar.

When Del Pinto defended her, Reisig said the man pulled out a gun and shot Del Pinto in the head and chest.

“There was no reason for it,” she said.

When Del Pinot first travelled to Thailand earlier last year as unrest made headlines, Fortune said his parents were hesitant. But when he came back with nothing but amazing stories to share, they were relieved.

When he said he was going back, his parents were less nervous because he had already been there.

“Obviously, this is their worst nightmare coming true,” Fortune said.

Del Pinto was born and raised in Calgary, the only son and youngest in the family with twin older sisters.

He was known as a very loving, kind man who cared a lot about his friends and family.

“He lived his life to the fullest. He valued friendship and trust over anything else in the world,” said Fortune, who had known Del Pinto for seven years.

But he also valued music, particularly heavy metal and classic rock. His favourite rock star was Ozzy Osbourne.

His passion for music took him to Vancouver about two years ago, where he studied sound engineering at college and worked as a roadie at B.C. Place, setting up stages for some of the bigger acts as they came through the city.

But after a trip to Thailand earlier last year, he decided to take a different path.

“Thailand became the passion for his life. He loved it there,” Fortune said. “He loved the lifestyle there.”

Del Pinto spent the Christmas holidays with his family, then flew to Vancouver on Boxing Day before continuing on overseas, arriving in Thailand on Jan. 2.

He worked in a tattoo shop, but had aspirations to pick up more of the language and then move on to teaching English. He wanted to start a business and establish roots in the country, Fortune said.

He was just getting settled, when the walk home from the bar with Reisig turned deadly.

There are conflicting reports about what took place.

According to the Associated Press, the police officer involved in the shooting says the couple attacked him and the shooting was an accident.

According to the officer’s version of events, Del Pinto and Reisig got into an argument and, when he tried to intervene, Del Pinto attempted to grab his gun and it discharged three times.

However, the police officer has been charged with premeditated murder and attempted murder in connection with the shooting.

Sgt. Uthai Dechawiwat is not being held while the case is investigated.

[DamianMavis]

The Canadian pathologist says Del Pinto died from gunshots to the cheek and abdomen. That's a little bit different then dying from "sharpshooter" bullets through the mouth and heart as we all thought happened due to the original reports

"She said there was one bullet in the right cheek and one in the abdomen.

Del Pinto's body arrived back in Canada early Saturday.

On Jan. 6, Del Pinto and his friend Carly Reisig were returning home from a bar in Pai when an off-duty Thai police officer approached them.

Del Pinto was shot in the head and chest and later died. Reisig was shot in the chest and is recovering in a Thai hospital."

So in the same article they say abdomen and then chest...... UPPER abdomen perhaps? Still in the area of the heart?

THAI POLICE QUOTE OF THE DECADE

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...t&p=1763468

Slain frogman identified

........The victim Mr Orberson, 50, was rushed to Phuket International Hospital, where he was initially kept in the Intensive Care Unit for a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

He was released on Saturday, before he could be questioned by police.

Chalong Police say they know where Mr Oberson is and that they plan to question him soon. They will have to file murder charges against him as a matter of procedure, though they expect the charges to be dropped eventually because all of the available evidence indicates that he was acting in self-defense........

From the Phuket Gazette

Now substitute the name "Mr Orberson" for the name "Sgt Uthai" and re-read the above quote then the whole of this thread again.

Gaz

I said it before, he's not going to be punished at all, not even a transfer. The only thing that can be done is the Canadian government using pressure to get results but they are too weak and timid... makes me ashamed.

Damian

[bulmercke]

This is Leo Del Pinto - the slain Canadian -

Does he look like a trouble-maker?

No, of course not. If you study his eyes you'll see that he's a sensitive and caring individual who had perhaps returned to Pai to win back Reisig or maybe had returned to Pai as a good friend of hers - someone who simply enjoyed Reisig's company.

And yes, of course, he would have valiantly defended his best friend from any local who appeared to be threatening his 'beau'.

Leo Del Pinto is a true hero and if there was any true justice in the world there would be a thousand irate citizens marching on Pai police station tomorrow.

[sabaijai]

The short time he was in Pai, Leo left behind the impression that he was a gentle and caring person. I met Leo briefly in Chiang Mai, and I was impressed by his keen interest in learning Thai.

His death must be a tragic loss to family and friends.

[Maestro]

...If you study his eyes you'll see...

Yes, it is astounding what one can tell about a man just by looking at his photograph. I knew a man once who did a flourishing business writing up detailed character analyses of the people whose passport photographs he evaluated, and unlike you he did not qualify any of his statements with “perhaps” and “maybe”. It reminds me of graphology, another science I find amazing.

Personally, I prefer palmistry.

--

Maestro

[kat]

The Canadian pathologist says Del Pinto died from gunshots to the cheek and abdomen. That's a little bit different then dying from "sharpshooter" bullets through the mouth and heart as we all thought happened due to the original reports

"She said there was one bullet in the right cheek and one in the abdomen.

Del Pinto's body arrived back in Canada early Saturday.

On Jan. 6, Del Pinto and his friend Carly Reisig were returning home from a bar in Pai when an off-duty Thai police officer approached them.

Del Pinto was shot in the head and chest and later died. Reisig was shot in the chest and is recovering in a Thai hospital."

So in the same article they say abdomen and then chest...... UPPER abdomen perhaps? Still in the area of the heart?[/color]

That's a good point. Uthai's aim was a lot better by the third shot on Reisig, but lucky for her, not good enough.

As I said earlier, there are still important details that are missing and may never be corroborated, such as if Uthai identified himself as a cop, how did the scuffle begin, and why did he need to turn the gun on Carly Reisig, narrowly missing her heart? Since he fled the scene with both victims lying in a pool of blood, we are cheated out of undeniable evidence on him, such as his alcohol blood level, and photos of him in civilian clothing. He was the professional there, so why didn't he behave like one in an accidental yet "justified" shooting?

Why do we know so much about Reisig and Del Pinto, yet so little about Uthai, a cop who frequented the bars and worked in that town daily?

[bulmercke]

Sgt. Uthai Dechawiwat, right, acts out how he was knocked over a motorcycle in the tussle with Carly Reisig and Leo Del Pinto.

We were playfighting, victim says

Gwendolyn Richards , Calgary Herald

Published: Wednesday, January 09, 2008

A woman recovering from a bullet wound to her chest in a shooting that also saw a Calgary man killed said they were playfighting but causing no harm when an off-duty police officer intervened and pulled out a gun.

Carly Reisig, speaking from her hospital bed in Chiang Mai, said she and Calgarian Leo Del Pinto had a playfighting relationship and may have been loud after they left a bar in the northern Thai town of Pai early Sunday morning.

"We hadn't seen each other in a long time," she said. "We weren't causing any harm to each other."

Reisig has been in hospital since early Sunday morning after she and Del Pinto, 25, were shot. Del Pinto died at the scene.

A police officer has been charged with premeditated murder and attempted murder in the case.

Reisig said the officer, who did not identify himself, punched her as she and Del Pinto were walking down the road.

Del Pinto rushed to defend Reisig and pushed the man, who then pulled out a gun. After struggling to gain control of the pistol, Del Pinto was shot in the head and chest.

Reisig was also shot in the chest, the bullet narrowly missing her heart.

Witnesses reported Del Pinto and Reisig had been arguing and Sgt. Uthai Dechawiwat had been asked to intervene.

Dechawiwat has been released as the investigation continues.

Edited January 15, 2008 by bulmercke

[sabaijai]

Sgt. Uthai Dechawiwat, right, acts out how he was knocked over a motorcycle in the tussle with Carly Reisig and Leo Del Pinto.

We were playfighting, victim says

Gwendolyn Richards , Calgary Herald

Published: Wednesday, January 09, 2008

A woman recovering from a bullet wound to her chest in a shooting that also saw a Calgary man killed said they were playfighting but causing no harm when an off-duty police officer intervened and pulled out a gun.

Carly Reisig, speaking from her hospital bed in Chiang Mai, said she and Calgarian Leo Del Pinto had a playfighting relationship and may have been loud after they left a bar in the northern Thai town of Pai early Sunday morning.

"We hadn't seen each other in a long time," she said. "We weren't causing any harm to each other."

Reisig has been in hospital since early Sunday morning after she and Del Pinto, 25, were shot. Del Pinto died at the scene.

A police officer has been charged with premeditated murder and attempted murder in the case.

Reisig said the officer, who did not identify himself, punched her as she and Del Pinto were walking down the road.

Del Pinto rushed to defend Reisig and pushed the man, who then pulled out a gun. After struggling to gain control of the pistol, Del Pinto was shot in the head and chest.

Reisig was also shot in the chest, the bullet narrowly missing her heart.

Witnesses reported Del Pinto and Reisig had been arguing and Sgt. Uthai Dechawiwat had been asked to intervene.

Dechawiwat has been released as the investigation continues.

In another published interview, Reisig claims not to remember anything before Uthai approached.

http://www.showbizspy.com/2008/01/09/girl-...a-troublemaker/

The reports you are pasting in this thread all hinge on Reisig's testimony alone. There were also eyewitness reports that say that Uthai ID'ed himself verbally as police, and that Reisig assaulted Uthai first.

There are three possibilities, 1) Uthai is telling the truth, 2) Reisig is telling the truth, or 3) neither is telling the truth. Until all recorded testimony is in, we can't definitively say which view is correct. Getting at the truth is further complicated by the fact that it was the middle of the night, it was dark, and most potential witnesses at that hour and that spot in town would tend to be drunk, high or fatigued. The principals in the case also appear to have been inebriated.