Bail Controversy : Court Frees Tourists’ Killer

[udon]

I'm saddened and disgusted at this farce.

Imagine how the victim's parents feel!

Thai justice (sic!) is now on trial ....... again

Does anyone have a pic of Somchai Visetsing?

I googled his name but came up with no pix....

[WISteve]

" DeerHunter killings"

If I could beg your indulgence on this matter......

I live less than an hour away from the site of this horrible crime. I don't know the actual victims, but I do know some of their families in this sparsely populated rural area. It is a terrible tragedy for the victims, six of whom have died and two others who will hopefully recover from their wounds, and the families involved.

Just as the Lloyd's deserve our respect, please try to bear in mind the people who are left behind in these senseless crimes are all over the world and might be reading our comments as well.

Commentary on the justice systems anywhere is worthwhile and good. We can all learn from it and encourage each other to act in the best manner to see that all people are given their fair chance in a time of tragedy.

But please try to show respect for the survivors.

Thank you,

WISteve

[thaitanic]

So he's back out on bail again until 20th December? For ######'s sake!

[Monkeys Beat]

I've emailed this story to every newspaper I know, for what it's worth.

Scary to hear about things like this, even scarier to hear you guys/girls talk about it like "another Amazing Thailand story".

Your quite right, we hear very little here in the uk about things like this, disturbing indeed.

[jeffreynathan]

é

Thai policeman enters innocent plea in killing of British tourists

KANCHANABURI: -- A Thai policeman accused of gunning down a young British tourist couple pleaded innocent to murder and weapons charges on Thursday, the prosecuting attorney said.

Sgt. Somchai Visetsingha is accused of killing Adam Lloyd, 25, and Vanessa Arscott, 24, on Sept. 9 in the popular tourist town of Kanchanaburi, about 110 kilometers (70 miles) west of the capital, Bangkok.

On Wednesday, the state prosecutors' office brought four charges against Somchai: premeditated murder of Lloyd, killing Arscott with intent to conceal evidence, possession of an unlicensed gun, and carrying a weapon in a public place without permission.

Somchai pleaded innocent to all charges in the provincial court Thursday, prosecutor Worawit Pankanaratworachai said.

The murder charges carry a maximum penalty of death.

When he spoke to the police and media immediately after his arrest, Somchai admitted killing the two tourists.

He said he drew his pistol and shot Lloyd in a fit of fury after the Briton spat in his face during an argument, but that he had not intended to kill Arscott, whom he unknowingly drove into as she tried to stop him from fleeing. After dragging her body for about 200 meters (660 feet), he said he stopped his car and shot her in his panic to escape.

Somchai eluded a massive manhunt for nearly a month, but surrendered to police on Oct. 7.

He was granted bail pending formal charges in court.

Somchai had petitioned the court to have the charges against him downgraded to killing in self-defense and killing without intent _ charges that do not carry the death penalty.

--AP 2004-11-25

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[geronimo]

Thai policeman enters innocent plea in killing of British tourists

KANCHANABURI: -- A Thai policeman accused of gunning down a young British tourist couple pleaded innocent to murder and weapons charges on Thursday, the prosecuting attorney said.

Sgt. Somchai Visetsingha is accused of killing Adam Lloyd, 25, and Vanessa Arscott, 24, on Sept. 9 in the popular tourist town of Kanchanaburi, about 110 kilometers (70 miles) west of the capital, Bangkok.

On Wednesday, the state prosecutors' office brought four charges against Somchai: premeditated murder of Lloyd, killing Arscott with intent to conceal evidence, possession of an unlicensed gun, and carrying a weapon in a public place without permission.

Somchai pleaded innocent to all charges in the provincial court Thursday, prosecutor Worawit Pankanaratworachai said.

The murder charges carry a maximum penalty of death.

When he spoke to the police and media immediately after his arrest, Somchai admitted killing the two tourists.

He said he drew his pistol and shot Lloyd in a fit of fury after the Briton spat in his face during an argument, but that he had not intended to kill Arscott, whom he unknowingly drove into as she tried to stop him from fleeing. After dragging her body for about 200 meters (660 feet), he said he stopped his car and shot her in his panic to escape.

Somchai eluded a massive manhunt for nearly a month, but surrendered to police on Oct. 7.

He was granted bail pending formal charges in court.

Somchai had petitioned the court to have the charges against him downgraded to killing in self-defense and killing without intent _ charges that do not carry the death penalty.

--AP 2004-11-25

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If he gets off, Thailand will be the laughing stock of the world!!!!

[udon]

If he gets off, Thailand will be the laughing stock of the world!!!!

I thought that about the Duang Chalerm case. aquitted, and no one raised a note.

Unfortunately "the world" doesn't care !

[eljeque]

Thailand is already the laughing stock of the world.

True, no one in the West cares about the senator's son getting off for murder,

but that was not a tourist situation.

Mail this to the tourist organizations of your country.

I think that might be better than the newspapers, but why not try both.

Does anyone have a pic of Somchai Visetsing?

It is in an earlier forum

[Golf]

HAHAHA!

It's a joke...he got out and went on theaten all witnesses in the area. Then no one step foward and he will be set free since there is not enough evidence against him.

It's a beauty of Thai justice system. Police is siding with the judge and play a big show to the media for a while. When the heat is ease out, they will help their man out of this mess. Never mind, he's a good man and we need him dearly. Thai police department will loss the best police man Thailand ever have.

I have a bit of info about how Thai police do their "evil science". I might post in separately on a new topic. You guys will find it's unbelievable...

HAHAHA!

[Kiwi_James]

"I have a bit of info about how Thai police do their "evil science". I might post in separately on a new topic. You guys will find it's unbelievable..."

Yes Golf I would sure like to read that..

[IsaanAlex]

He's as good as acquited on a technicality.

If OJ could do it.

As his lawyer I'd put it to you that he killed the man in self defense. (How things play out in court is much different than in the court of public opinion; rules of evidence and all).

Then he *accidentally* killed the girl by running her over. i.e. she was already dead when he shot her. Not guilty on the premeditated part then..

so where's the celebratory dinner being held?

Amazing Thailand indeed...

IA

[marquess]

How can he be innocent?!

[BlackJack]

it is a clear signal to any witnesses that this guy is connected and so you have "seen nothing and you will say nothing" or else

gunning people down, running people down, fleeing the scene of a crime and an accident, etc etc all should have put this guy in jail out of harms way.

but no

i know if i was a thai and saw something I would not come forward - i would take the money and look after my family - get on with life and not look over the shoulder

just like the wild west in past times

hey - whens the new sheriff coming to town

maybe then it will be safe

[JJDinsay]

Doubt this all could really be blamed on SEA - probably human nature in general. Read a post here posted by someone who made the point that that hunter in Wisconsin was Hmong which mean basically he was Thai or Khmer so it explains fully how he dealt with his problem like any child would. Pretty disturbing comment. Look around you attrocities are everywhere. Women gang raped in Pakistan because they commit adultry - and it's legal! Women adulterers in Nigeria get publicily stoned to death. A woman in Utah cuts off the arms of her infant son and he dies. Teenagers shooting up or slashing their schools. Ex President gets his rocks off in the Oval Office with his intern - AND he lets her keeps the dress! It's madness all around So don't stop coming to Thailand cause of this moronic bad apple. You could then make the case to not go to Indo because of what's going on in Aceh. Don't go to the Philippines cause some girl got raped and killed in the taxi on the way to the airport. Don't go to the UK cause U might get beat up by a bunch of drunken football fans. Don't go to Cape Town because you can get robbed there. Don't go to the US because OJ killed his girlfriend and her boyfriend and got away with it (or because Bush won a 2nd term).

[nogutsnoapplepie]

Scum of the earth!!!

[BlackJack]

" DeerHunter killings"

If I could beg your indulgence on this matter......

I live less than an hour away from the site of this horrible crime.  I don't know the actual victims, but I do know some of their families in this sparsely populated rural area.  It is a terrible tragedy for the victims, six of whom have died and two others who will hopefully recover from their wounds, and the families involved.

Thank you,

WISteve

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

DId i miss something

what 6 dead and 2 recovering?

[sprq]

BBC NEWS

Family angry at bail for 'killer'

The families of a UK couple shot dead in Thailand say it is a "travesty of natural justice" that the man accused of their murders has been granted bail.

Adam Lloyd, 25, and Vanessa Arscott, 24, from Devon, were killed on a night out near Kanchanaburi, 80 miles west of Bangkok, in September.

Thai policeman Sergeant Somchai Visetsingha was freed on £13,500 bail on Thursday.

He was released after pleading not guilty to their murders.

The two fathers of the couple, Brian Lloyd and Graham Arscott, and Vanessa's sister Alyssa, 27, visited Foreign Office minister Baroness Symons at her London office to request she intervene on their behalf with Thai authorities.

Mr Arscott said the families found bail decision "both heartbreaking and appalling".

"It makes me wonder as a father whether our children can ever have an opportunity to receive justice in such a system," he said.

Four charges

Thai prosecutors brought four charges against Somchai; premeditated murder of Lloyd; killing Arscott with intent to conceal evidence; possession of an unlicensed gun and carrying a weapon in a public place without permission.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges in the provincial court in Kanchanaburi on Thursday.

If found guilty he faces the automatic death sentence.

Mr Arscott said he has requested that the Foreign Office intervenes at the "highest level of authority in Thailand to remedy what is clearly a travesty of natural justice to our children".

He said that Thailand should consider the consequences the case may have for tourism.

"The Thai authorities need to be very mindful of the implications of such a travesty to their tourist industry as 750,000 Britons go to Thailand each year," he said.

No financial help

The families were accompanied by their MPs, Anthony Steen, Conservative MP for Totnes and Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay, who are petitioning the government to do more.

Mr Steen said this was a case of British subjects "who have been killed and abandoned".

He said the baroness was now going to speak to Thai authorities but the family would get no financial aid to help pay for travel costs to Thailand and a lawyer.

"It really is a disgraceful situation," he said. "British subjects should feel they have protection from the government, prime minister and Foreign Office wherever they go in the world."

The families intend to travel to Thailand next month for an interim court hearing.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia...fic/4043607.stm

Published: 2004/11/25 23:52:04 GMT

© BBC MMIV

[Artisi]

Oh well - just another day in the Land Of Smiles. Who care cares - well certainly not the powers that be otherwise he would be . The only ones it effects are the family and friends of those heinous farangs who apparently upset the the poor excuse for a human being.

Wait and see if all those witnesses with 20/20 vision will suddenly be partially blind or else suffer from some sort of temporary memory loss - but it's ok, both of these complaints usually only last a day or two and pass without any permanent damage. However, it has been know that in some cases partial blindness or memory loss can have a positive side effect - it's called - "bank-account increase syndrome". This paticular infliction is fairly common to Thailand and can, given the right conditions, affect 100% of all prosecution witnesses to crime.

[Artisi]

Lost a bit of my post so have included it here

Oh well - just another day in the Land Of Smiles. Who care cares - well certainly not the powers that be otherwise he would be locked well away from those who can make sure he gets what he deserves.

[Crushdepth]

Somchai had petitioned the court to have the charges against him downgraded to killing in self-defense and killing without intent _ charges that do not carry the death penalty.

He shot an unarmed guy, mows down his unarmed girlfriend, admits to killing both of them...and is released on bail and now wants to plead not guilty to murder ?

Pathetic.

[udon]

nogutsnoapplepie

Thanks for the pic, I had seen it elsewhere and asumed he was just a petty thief, not the murderer of tourists!

Let's all remember what this prick looks like for "further reference".....

[nogutsnoapplepie]

nogutsnoapplepie

Thanks for the pic, I had seen it elsewhere and asumed he was just a petty thief, not the murderer of tourists!

Let's all remember what this prick looks like for "further reference".....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Accused killer out on bail again

PIYARACH CHONGCHAROEN

Somchai: Bailed

Kanchanaburi _ The policeman accused of murdering two British tourists in Muang district on Sept 9 has been granted bail by the court for a second time despite objections from prosecutors, who fear he may flee or intimidate witnesses.

Pol Snr Sgt-Maj Somchai Wisetsing surrendered on Oct 7 following one month on the run after he allegedly shot dead British tourists Adam Lloyd, 25, and Vanessa Arscott, 24, after an argument at a restaurant in Kanchanaburi.

The court first granted him bail of one million baht earlier this month. Prosecutors said this was irregular as they were not informed.

The defendant appeared in the Kanchanaburi Provincial Court yesterday morning and pleaded not guilty to four charges _ murder, covering up murder, illegal firearms possession and illegally carrying a gun.

The court set Dec 20 for the first hearing.

In the afternoon, Judge Suraporn Cholsakhon allowed him bail over the prosecution's objection.

He set a condition that the defendant report every month and not leave the country.

[thaitanic]

If he gets off, Thailand will be the laughing stock of the world!!!!

I thought that about the Duang Chalerm case. aquitted, and no one raised a note.

Unfortunately "the world" doesn't care !

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not this time I feel. This story was the front 3 pages of the UK's Daily Express when it first broke. If the guy gets off I think there'll be outrage and if I was one of the 4 parents I would pursue it till the day I die... or come over and shoot him myself.

By the way doesn't he look like a lovely chap.

[bluebear]

Isnt it funny how if are a cop and you can murder 2 people in cold blood then run away and hide for a month then get bail ( twice ) but if youre some guy that cuts off the penis of a robber you get denied bail because you could run away.

[nogutsnoapplepie]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004550832,00.html

[udon]

So, he has to report once a month!

Yeah, right. Report and POQ. It will be a month before anyone raises the alarm.

Is the judge his dad, by any remote chance?

Unfknbelievable....... even in a Banana Republic!

[nogutsnoapplepie]

http://www.bbcworld.com/content/template_c...asp?pageid=2011

Email your concerns and views to the BBC.

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11.html?1

CNN

[email protected]

News Of The World

[chuchok]

http://www.bbcworld.com/content/template_c...asp?pageid=2011

Email your concerns and views to the BBC.

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11.html?1

CNN

[email protected]

News Of The World

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've e-mailed both.

If I actually posted my true feelings and what I would do if I was the parent of the two victims, I would be banned from here and would probably receive a visit from plod!

[dighambara]

So, shooting unarmed tourists is "self defense"? Since when has spitting been comparable to an attack with deadly weapon?

If he gets away with this, it will prove, once and for all, the Thai police are worthless.

Mike Weldon

Udon Thani

[RDN]

http://www.bbcworld.com/content/template_c...asp?pageid=2011

Email your concerns and views to the BBC.

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11.html?1

CNN

[email protected]

News Of The World

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I emailed these:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

If you are truly concerned, don't just post here, send the above an email. NOW!