Thai red tape delays moves to bring Luke Mitchell's killers to justice

Article from: </IMG>Mark Buttler and Brendan Roberts

July 22, 2009 12:00am

IT could be a year before the fugitive suspects in the shocking good Samaritan murder are brought back to Melbourne to face justice.

The wanted men have been at large in Thailand for two months since flying out within hours of the death of Luke Mitchell, who was bashed to death in Brunswick after going to the aid of a man.

Homicide squad detectives and Luke's family face a long wait before the investigation goes any further.

Australia has an extradition treaty with Thailand and paperwork has been prepared if the two men are arrested.

The decision will then be made by the Thai Cabinet.

Melbourne investigators identified two suspects within hours of the brutal attack on Luke Mitchell in the early hours of May 24.

The men fled to Thailand later that day.

Luke's brother Shane told the Herald Sun the family had to be patient for justice.

"We are still hoping for a result but we are mindful that these things can take a long time," he said.

"Its frustrating that the case is still open, but we're focusing on using this time to mourn for Luke."

"Of course we're hopeful, but it's a delicate situation and the police are conducting it the best way they see fit."

Mr Mitchell was killed after helping to stop an attack on a man near a nightclub in Sydney Rd.

After leaving the scene of the confrontation, he was assaulted and stabbed outside a nearby 7-Eleven store at the corner of Brunswick and Sydney roads. He died in hospital a few hours later.

Police believe his attackers drove to the 7-Eleven in a Mercedes after arming themselves with knives from a nearby brothel.

One of the suspects was already on a flight out of Melbourne when he was identified.

Police and Jetstar say the flight was well out of Australian air space by the time he was identified.

In any case, police say they did not at that early stage have an arrest warrant with which to detain him if the Bangkok-bound flight, JQ29, was turned back.

The suspect paid cash for a return ticket to Bangkok and left just under 12 hours after Mr Mitchell died.

Police believe the return ticket was a simpler and less suspicious way of leaving Australia.

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