Teens get life for sex worker killings

March 19, 2005

From: AAP

TWO teenagers have been sentenced to life imprisonment over the drowning murder of two sex workers in a crocodile infested river.

Friends Ben William McLean and Phu Ngoc Trinh sat emotionless as a jury today found them both guilty of two counts of murder.

The unanimous verdict came after more than 12 hours of jury deliberations, and at the end of a sensational five-week trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court.

The 19-year-olds originally confessed to the murder after they were discovered hiding in a cupboard in a friend's Brisbane home during a midnight police raid a week after the killings.

McLean originally claimed the bikie gang Hells Angels forced them to kill the women to pay off a drug debt, but the teens later admitted the story was a pack of lies.

But in a twist at the end of the trial it was claimed an Asian crime gang was responsible for the killings, and McLean was not even present during the murders.

The elaborate story gained some weight when the prosecution was forced to reopen its case with new evidence at the 11th hour.

Police uncovered security footage that showed Trinh was where he said he was at a particular time on the night of the killings.

However, the jury today chose to disbelieve the teens' Asian crime gang story with a guilty verdict, which investigator Greg Lade described as a "great result".

"We're obviously happy, it's good to see that the jury system does work," head of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Lade said outside court.

"We were confident all the way through.

"It's a big case and it's a difficult case.

"There was those full frank confessions to start with and it changed dramatically towards the end of the trial.

"All we can say is at the end of the day a good result."

Darwin sex workers Phuangsri Kroksamrang, 58, and Somjai Insamnan, 27, were bound with cable ties and thrown alive into the Adelaide River, near Darwin in March last year.

Their floating bodies were discovered by crocodile spotting tour operators a couple of days later.

Police later found clothing and items belonging to the women burnt in a fire on Trinh's family property, and a receipt for the rope, tape and cable ties used to bind the women in Trinh's wallet.

Justice Dean Mildren, who has described the killings as "horrific", today sentenced the teenagers to mandatory life imprisonment.

He will set a non-parole period on May 16.

Edited March 19, 200521 yr by gburns57au

Good to see justice done. I hope that, in future, the Parole Board shows them as much mercy as they showed their victims.

These wild animals need to be caged.

Too bad taxpayers' money will be wasted housing and feeding these ######ers.

Get the crocs excited with a bit of ground beef then throw these pricks in.

Too bad taxpayers' money will be wasted housing and feeding these ######ers.

Get the crocs excited with a bit of ground beef then throw these pricks in.

Are you serious?

Too bad taxpayers' money will be wasted housing and feeding these ######ers.

Get the crocs excited with a bit of ground beef then throw these pricks in.

Are you serious?

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I think that he is

One was 58 years old. And the two perps were both 19?

Must have been very hard up.

I just noticed that.

Are there no young Australian women?

Too bad taxpayers' money will be wasted housing and feeding these ######ers.

Get the crocs excited with a bit of ground beef then throw these pricks in.

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Which indigenous tribe are you from?

Too bad taxpayers' money will be wasted housing and feeding these ######ers.

Get the crocs excited with a bit of ground beef then throw these pricks in.

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Which indigenous tribe are you from?

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The Wackies Nat. The Wackies.

Get the crocs excited with a bit of ground beef then throw these pricks in.

There are certainly some very aggressive people on this forum.

Edited March 20, 200521 yr by aletta

There are certainly some very aggressive people on this forum.

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My guess is that the majority are pissed about behaviour Father.

how long is "life" in Aust?

how long is "life" in Aust?

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Believe it's 25 years, non-parole.

how long is "life" in Aust?

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Believe it's 25 years, non-parole.

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That is more than I thought it was Nat...it is something atleast.

how long is "life" in Aust?

Life is usually 20 years however a judge can order a longer term to be served.....due to their age I would suggest that they will be shown some leniency....Unfair yes....thats the way it is though

due to their age I would suggest that they will be shown some leniency....Unfair yes....thats the way it is though

the crocs get my vote.

seriously !

how long is "life" in Aust?

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Life is usually 20 years however a judge can order a longer term to be served.....due to their age I would suggest that they will be shown some leniency....Unfair yes....thats the way it is though

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Life imprisonment (in general) is normally 20 years, non-parole, however this is depended on subsection 3 (of the act) – so in the case of murder it is 25 years non-parole.

how long is "life" in Aust?

Life is usually 20 years however a judge can order a longer term to be served.....due to their age I would suggest that they will be shown some leniency....Unfair yes....thats the way it is though

Life imprisonment (in general) is normally 20 years, non-parole, however this is depended on subsection 3 (of the act) – so in the case of murder it is 25 years non-parole.

That would be for wilful murder.....I think these guys were only charged with murder......

Don't forget that Somchai still walks. Thai TV news continue to show this event unfold, but not Somchai case? Two Thai women murdered by two farangs; they stick with. How about two Brites were murdered by Thai police?

Golf

Get the crocs excited with a bit of ground beef then throw these pricks in.

There are certainly some very aggressive people on this forum.

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I was just being politically correct.