British Yachting Couple Attacked In Satun

[saneroad]

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A British man sailing with his wife off the coast of southern Thailand was allegedly beaten to death and thrown overboard by men trying to steal their dinghy, Thai police said Tuesday.

Police arrested three migrant workers from neighbouring Myanmar whom they accused of attacking Malcolm Robertson and his wife, Linda, Monday on their yacht anchored off the coast of Satun, a southern province bordering Malaysia.

"They tried to steal the dinghy and beat Mr. Robertson with their fists and hammers until he died," Police Colonel Virat Ohn-song, chief of the La-ngoo district police station, told Reuters.

He said police were searching for the body.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews...E52N36R20090324

[neverdie]

Shocking & aweful. May the victim RIP & the bastards that did this be brought to justice swiftly. My thoughts are with the victims wife & family.

[Farma]

Andrew Drummond was interviewed on Sky News and mentioned the name of the yacht as "Mister Bean". Video during the interview showed it to be a very bloody attack.

[samuibeachcomber]

sailing the high seas used to be an adventure,today it looks like a a dangerous one.

know how to buy and shoot an AK47 might help.

[sriracha john]

British man 'killed by pirates in Thailand'

A British man sailing with his wife off the coast of southern Thailand was allegedly beaten to death and thrown overboard by pirates trying to steal their vessel, Thai police said today.

Police arrested three migrant workers from neighbouring Burma whom they accused of attacking Malcolm Robertson and his wife, Linda, on Monday on their yacht anchored off the coast of Satun, a southern province bordering Malaysia.

"They tried to steal the dinghy and beat Mr Robertson with their fists and hammers until he died," Police Colonel Virat Ohn-song, chief of the La-ngoo district police station, said.

He said police were searching for the body.

The British embassy in Thailand said it was assisting Linda Robertson, who suffered minor injuries.

"We are aware of an attack overnight on a British couple off the coast of Satun in southern Thailand. We are urgently pursuing this case with the Thai police," an embassy spokesman said.

Fishermen had reported the yacht apparently adrift. When police investigated, the three suspects tried to flee in the dinghy and were arrested, Virat said.

Thailand is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, luring some 14 million tourists annually, with Britain the biggest Western market.

- Telegraph (UK) / 2009-03-24

[sriracha john]

British man 'killed by pirates in Thailand'

off the coast of Satun, a southern province bordering Malaysia.

I'm immediately reminded of the good book:

which is about pirates plundering passing ships off Tarutao.... an island in Satun province... during WW II.

[noahvail]

sailing the high seas used to be an adventure,today it looks like a a dangerous one.

know how to buy and shoot an AK47 might help.

Sir Peter Blake, skipper of New Zealand of America's Cup victories in the 90s, was killed on the Amazon when his research vessel was attacked. He was below at the time, came on deck with the ship's rifle, and was killed.

Ships going around Somalia are encouraged to have a couple of snipers on deck at all times, to pick off the pirates in fast inflatables. On a big ship, it's easy to hit your target; from an inflatable at speed, bloody near impossible.

My thoughts are with the deceased's family...and may the perps find a special place in hel_l.

[sriracha john]

Police accompany Linda Robertson back to land, along with the three suspects

BBC News Video Link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7961371.stm

[JimsKnight]

Times being hard and the poor getting poorer, expect this sort of thing I'm afraid.

Being prepared is key. The seas out there are not as safe as you'd imagine.

[sriracha john]

Police officers help Linda Robertson get off a boat in Satun province, southern Thailand, March 24, 2009. A British man sailing with his wife off the coast of southern Thailand was allegedly beaten and tossed overboard on Monday night by men trying to steal their dinghy, Thai police said on Tuesday. Police have arrested three migrant workers from neighbouring Myanmar whom they accused of attacking Malcolm Robertson and his wife, Linda, on their yacht anchored off the coast of Satun, a southern province bordering Malaysia. The British embassy in Thailand said it was assisting Linda Robertson, who suffered minor injuries.

REUTERS

Three Burmese migrants suspected of killing a British man sailing at Satun province arrive on a boat at a harbour in southern Thailand March 24, 2009.

REUTERS

Police officer escort one of the Burmese migrant workers suspected of the killing of a British man sailing at Satun province March 24, 2009.

REUTERS

[Scott]

My deepest condolences to the friends and family of victims.

My hope is that they got the correct perpetrators of this crime.

[DP25]

My hope is that they got the correct perpetrators of this crime.

The three guys were found on the boat, along with the British woman and her dead husband. The chances are pretty good they got the right people.

[Scott]

Thanks DP 25. I missed that.

[dumball]

Thanks DP 25. I missed that.

The dead husband was not on board , it was stated he had been thrown overboard and they were searching for his body .

May god rest his soul , R.I.P.

[khundon]

They don't look much more than kids!

If they did it then they should be strapped to the cross, lotus blossom in hand and shot.

Bastards.

RIP to the poor husband and condolences to the wife.

Very dangerous waters up there, maybe more fast patrol boats needed and more patrols.

[sriracha john]

Call in the Navy...

if the police can't manage the situation...

[cosa]

At the end of the video clip it looks like some Thai man tried to punch one of the perpetrators while the police were transferring him on land.

I wonder why, they don't like the Burmese nationals? Affects the tourism trade maybe... Would they do it to a fellow Thai if it was he who committed the crime?

[Miserere]

If your going to go sailing your fancy rich yacht around dangerous seas close to the province of people starving with no money or possessions don't be surprised if your attacked!

Its like walking through a ghetto wearing a Rolex! what do you expect?

Really, soft rich white folk having 'an adventure' really should do more research and take more precautions.

Of course its all very sad and my commiserations go out to the family etc etc etc...but really!...stick to a boating lake in Surrey loves.

[alex_4000]

Would they do it to a fellow Thai if it was he who committed the crime?

sure they would

I wonder why, they don't like the Burmese nationals?

they dont - got to do with history

[girlx]

that poor wife. she's going to have a rough time of it, nightmares for years i'll bet. very sad.

[anais]

If your going to go sailing your fancy rich yacht around dangerous seas close to the province of people starving with no money or possessions don't be surprised if your attacked!

Its like walking through a ghetto wearing a Rolex! what do you expect?

Really, soft rich white folk having 'an adventure' really should do more research and take more precautions.

Of course its all very sad and my commiserations go out to the family etc etc etc...but really!...stick to a boating lake in Surrey loves.

By that logic, anyone visiting a less-economically developed country is "asking for it." What drivel.

[richard_smith237]

If your going to go sailing your fancy rich yacht around dangerous seas close to the province of people starving with no money or possessions don't be surprised if your attacked!

Its like walking through a ghetto wearing a Rolex! what do you expect?

Really, soft rich white folk having 'an adventure' really should do more research and take more precautions.

Of course its all very sad and my commiserations go out to the family etc etc etc...but really!...stick to a boating lake in Surrey loves.

By that logic, anyone visiting a less-economically developed country is "asking for it." What drivel.

I don’t normally respond to comments like this… But what utter insensitive stupidity.

I think I’ve seen our insensitive forum associate walking around, but only within the hours of daylight wearing cheap sandals, tattered shorts and a singlet vest top; no one will rob him or assault him ever. He will never be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He doesn’t drink because that attracts trouble. He’s so smart he never makes a mistake and is never ever at risk of anything untoward happening to him, particularly when making comments such as this on an anonymous forum…

If any of his daft thoughts are true – we should all be too scared to travel anywhere…

I hope the friends and family of the deceased do not make the mistake of reading this forum. Sincerest condolences if they do. RIP.

[bartender100]

With respect to the deceased, i too think they were naive to sail alone in Satun, which has always been known as a hot spot, it certainly looked like a beautiful yacht, maybe we will learn more about the couple soon

[Junglejumbo]

The wife will still be in shock. I can pick up some vibes from the first few commentators that perhaps its somewhat surprising that these three "youths" managed to kill someone but actually made off with nothing and seemingly appearing from nowhere where the Thai police who managed to get out into the sea and arrive at the dingy before they even got away with anything.....

I know this sounds crude but the wife looks pretty big. The three burmese are all small. They had a hammer. Big deal....I am not qualified to really say anymore other than if I was his wife, couldn't I have fought them with something? If the hammer had aimed at me, at least my husband could have been free to do something possibly? Why didn't they hit me with a hammer also regardless of whether the husband was dead or not? I am still a key witness... Oh yes, I forget the police arrived just in time to save me....

I don't know but my gut says something fishy. Sorry folks and lets hope its just long term ex-pat paranoia.

[Nampeung]

Just been on BBC News 24 - they said the 'killers' stole the dingy and all the couple's credit cards then locked the wife dow below before fleeing in the dingy. The wife escaped and radioed for help. There was a lot of blood on deck. The police then apparently caught the suspects with the credit cards...

[Nampeung]

I don't get it... as usual the story is full of holes now I read that the wife was tied up to 'help them sail the yacht'. See here

;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/7961408.stm

[Junglejumbo]

OK, the BBC report makes more sense. Sailed for hours with the lady then the Burmese left and the lady sailed over to a fishing boat and fishermen called for hep. Police came out and spotted the Burmese in the dingy escaping with the credit cards. Therefore, the Burmese must have been heading towards Thailand while the police where heading out to the fishing boat and yacht. The yacht must have been intercepted some distance away from Thailand and the criminals wanted to come here.

However, how did the Burmese get to the boat in the first place? Why would they just leave their own dingy. If they were poor they would've wanted to keep it. Killing isn't enough of a reason to take a credit card and leave behind a boat.

Why didn't they just leave on the same boat they came on or take the big boat and kill the lady, too? Why only take credit cards when they can be canceled so easily, and Burmese could never get away with using credit cards with a foreign name on it whilst there wouldn't be enough time to sell them on before they were canceled.

If they only wanted credit cards why not take them from the husband without killing him? There's no mention if they took anything from the lady....Is it about ego? Would the husband have not accepted to drive the yacht further in land to let them escape whilst the wife would?

I

[wpcoe]

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A British man sailing with his wife off the coast of southern Thailand was allegedly beaten to death and thrown overboard by men trying to steal their dinghy, Thai police said Tuesday.

Police arrested three migrant workers from neighbouring Myanmar whom they accused of attacking Malcolm Robertson and his wife, Linda, Monday on their yacht anchored off the coast of Satun, a southern province bordering Malaysia.

"They tried to steal the dinghy and beat Mr. Robertson with their fists and hammers until he died," Police Colonel Virat Ohn-song, chief of the La-ngoo district police station, told Reuters.

In this report, are dinghy and yacht interchangeable, i.e. are the terms referring to the same vessel?

Originally I thought this was a big yacht with a smaller dinghy attached and couldn't understand why the pirates wanted a small dinghy versus a large yacht. I thought a yacht would be a larger more luxurious vessel than a smaller, more basic dinghy?

[edited to add:]

Okay, now I get it, I think. I just read the linked BBC article and Junglejumbo's post which was added while I was composing my reply. There *was* a small dinghy attached to the large yacht.

There are the typically confliciting details about the report, such as being beaten with fists/hammer vs having his throat slit. The original report sounds like they were only stealing the dinghy, but the BBC report says they were stealing credit cards, which seems more likely a reason for the attack.

[Nampeung]

'Junglejumbo'

''However, how did the Burmese get to the boat in the first place? Why would they just leave their own dingy. If they were poor they would've wanted to keep it. Killing isn't enough of a reason to take a credit card and leave behind a boat.

Why didn't they just leave on the same boat they came on or take the big boat and kill the lady, too? Why only take credit cards when they can be canceled so easily, and Burmese could never get away with using credit cards with a foreign name on it whilst there wouldn't be enough time to sell them on before they were canceled.''

Good/interesting point JJ. Let's see how this unfolds

[thaiwanderer]

At the end of the video clip it looks like some Thai man tried to punch one of the perpetrators while the police were transferring him on land.

I wonder why, they don't like the Burmese nationals? Affects the tourism trade maybe... Would they do it to a fellow Thai if it was he who committed the crime?

please tell me you are joking