British Yachting Couple Attacked In Satun

[ratcatcher]

Well, I hope this good woman, with the help of her family and friends, can slowly get over this tragedy and rebuild her life.

I hope people realize this was a rare occurrence and that people in the U.K.don't think that Thai people (or Burmese) are dangerous.

Just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[wilbert]

Yachtsman murder: Fishermen jailed

Two Burmese fishermen have each been sentenced to 25 years in prison for murdering a British yachtsman off the coast of Thailand, it was confirmed.

Malcolm Robertson, 64, was bludgeoned and thrown overboard off the Andaman coast after the men boarded his vessel as he sailed with his wife Linda in March.

Mrs Robertson was left fearing for her life as the migrants kept her tied up for around 10 hours before they eventually fled the yacht.

Thai fishermen found the body of Mr Robertson, a businessman from Hastings, East Sussex, 10 nautical miles north of Satun's Lipeh Island a week after the attack.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirmed two adult Burmese nationals were sentenced at Satun Provincial Court on Thursday for his murder.

An FCO spokesman said: "Both men had pleaded guilty to the charges and as a result the sentences were reduced by half to 25 years, eight months imprisonment."

A 17-year-old boy also convicted of the murder is to be held in custody until he reaches the age of 24, the spokesman added.

The Press Association 1 hour ago

[wilbert]

Pirates jailed for yacht murder

Three Burmese teenagers have been jailed for murdering a yachtsman from East Sussex off the coast of Thailand.

Malcolm Robertson, 64, of Hastings, was bludgeoned and thrown overboard off the Andaman coast after the pirates boarded his vessel, the Mr Bean, in March.

His wife Linda was left fearing for her life as they kept her tied up for about 10 hours before they fled the yacht.

The Foreign Office said the killers were sentenced by a Thai court on Thursday.

They were named in reports from Thailand as Eksian Warapon, 19, an 18-year-old known as Aow, and a 17-year-old boy, known as Ko.

The men, who had pleaded guilty, were each sentenced to 25 years in prison at Satun Provincial Court.

The boy, who was convicted of murder, was jailed until he reaches the age of 24.

The reports said they had been stranded on an island after jumping from a Thai fishing ship.

After finding the island had little food and water, they killed Mr Robertson when they boarded his anchored 44ft yacht.

The vessel was named after the Mr Bean chain of coffee shops he ran.

They ate the couple's food supplies and fled the boat but were later arrested on a raft about half a mile from the couple's vessel.

Mrs Robertson escaped with minor injuries but detailed her ordeal during 10 hours of testimony in Satun, describing how the attackers tied her hands and feet and how she heard her husband tell them: "Get off my boat."

Thai fishermen found the body of Mr Robertson 10 nautical miles north of Satun's Lipeh Island a week after the attack.

He was semi-retired and had passed the running of his chain of coffee shops in East Sussex to his children.

He was fulfilling a lifelong dream of spending winter months sailing around warmer climes with his wife.

The couple, both qualified yacht masters who had sailed round the world, had been married for 25 years and had four children and seven grandchildren.

More than 150 mourners gathered at his funeral service at St John the Evangelist Church near their home in St Leonards-on-Sea where it was said he "chased his dream" of world adventure.

An inquest into Mr Robertson's death is due to be held in Hastings on 9 December.

BBC News

10:31 GMT, Sunday, 29 November 2009