Ronald Fanelli Update: Still No Return To Phuket Prison

[webfact]

Ronald Fanelli update: Still no return to Phuket Prison

Care of the late Ms Wanphen’s two children now falls to her mother

Sa-ard, pictured here with Wanphen’s daughter ‘Farm’.

Photo courtesy thailandfriends.com.

PHUKET: -- Legal proceedings against confessed killer Ronald Fanelli are on hold until the American returns to Phuket, the Gazette has learned.

Mr Fanelli is currently undergoing psychiatric examination at a facility in Surat Thani.

The former US Navy officer was taken to Suan Saranrom Hospital for examination on September 13, reportedly at his own request.

The case against him has been deferred until an evaluation report is issued and he is returned to Phuket Provincial Prison, a source at the jail told the Gazette.

More than two months after leaving Phuket he remains in Surat Thani.

Mr Fanelli has been charged with the murder of bar hostess Wanphen Pienjai, a 37-year-old mother of two who disappeared from the Sweethearts Bar in Kata on June 18.

The subject of police manhunt almost a month long, Mr Fanelli was arrested in a rented home in Karon on July 17.

During his confession at a press conference at Phuket City Police Station on July 18, Mr Fanelli described the killing as a “terrible, terrible mistake”.

The Gazette left a long list of questions with Mr Fanelli during a 10-minute meeting with him at Phuket Provincial Prison in early September.

However, he later returned the list with the questions unanswered and a brief note saying he needed to consult his lawyer first.

Meanwhile, a group of online poker players based outside of Thailand has raised about 30,000 baht for the surviving family of Ms Wanphen.

Before moving to Thailand, Mr Fanelli was a professional poker player on the London circuit, where he used to play under the name “MadYank”.

[Like most forms of gaming, playing on-line poker is illegal in Thailand, although authorities admit they lack the resources to effectively enforce the law.]

News of his arrest drew a great deal of attention from the on-line poker community who hope to increase that amount to 100,000 through a charity fundraiser.

Bill Rini, who visited the family in September with the first installment of the money raised, wrote on his personal blogsite:

“Sa-ard [Wanphen’s mother] brought down a letter sent to her by the Phuket Rotary Club granting Wanphen’s children, Farm and Iang, scholarships amounting to 6,000 baht (about US$193) a year each while they stayed in school."

“If either of the children wanted to attend university they indicated that they would review that with her when the time came.”

“Amusingly, everyone there translated ‘Rotary’ to ‘Lotary’ and thought it had to do with the lottery. I had to explain what the Rotary Club was and everyone seemed to do that embarrassed chuckle when they realized how far off they had been.”

Mr Rini’s website ThailandFriends.com is organizing a charity fund-raising event in Bangkok in January in order to raise more money for the family.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-11-18

[DougLee]

They better not let him out on term of crazyness.. h'es just homicidal

[waza]

Well done to the online poker community and Rotary Club. Seems "Mad Yank" was an apt nic for this seriously sick guy. Hopefull he will get what he deserves.

[jumpybongo]

Well done to the online poker community and Rotary Club. Seems "Mad Yank" was an apt nic for this seriously sick guy. Hopefull he will get what he deserves.

seems your wish has been granted now then waza

can anyone confirm sentence handed down?

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bolognanotizie.com%2Fsport%2F2011%2F06%2F08%2F40381%2Fpoker-player-condannato-a-morte-negli-usa%2F

[waza]

Midge 2011/06/17 - 1:43 AM 6/17/2011 - 1:43 AM

This story is entirely false and without foundation. . Ron Fanelli has not even HAD His trial, yet alone Been Sentenced.

See this post yesterday from Vicky Coren:

"I do not know where this idea has as Ron from That has Received a death penalty - I really hope it's not someone's sick joke - but it is absolutely NOT correct. He has not even had his trial yet. He is still on remand prison in the Thai and the two trials is for the autumn.

The conditions are extremely tough in there and he is of course having a hard time, but he is able to see his wife and son regularly once a week for ten minutes which he tells me is giving him something to live for. Also he is reading a lot and Trying to keep healthy and calm Himself That Way.

This is all a horrible business for many Reasons, but it has not yet Reached at the conclusion of Any Kind - Certainly nothing as dark as has-been discussed earlier in this thread and Suggested (I hear) other online poker sites - and I would think (and Personally, certainly very much hope) That the result of the trial Likely Would Be Rather Than the jail term anything more violent.

I do not want to get into a debate about Ron, just wanted to have for the record here is absolutely incorrect That this gossip. "

Edited December 16, 2011 by waza

[waza]

Confessed Phuket murderer Fanelli on the inside

Phuket Gazette Wednesday, March 9, 2011 5:53:00 PM

PHUKET: Murder suspect Ronald Fanelli has yet to enter a plea with the Phuket Provincial Court and the American says his detention at Phuket Provincial Prison is making him physically ill.My link

He confirmed having spent three months in treatment at Suan Saranrom Hospital in Surat Thani, which specializes in the treatment of psychiatric conditions......Overcrowding at the prison has led to a lack of cleanliness that has given him scabies and other infections he said, holding up his arms to show his sores........"We sleep asses to elbows here," he said, adding that some inmates appeared to be suffering from active tuberculosis.

continued here...............My link

Edited December 16, 2011 by waza

[Jimi007]

Confessed Phuket murderer Fanelli on the inside

Phuket Gazette – Wednesday, March 9, 2011 5:53:00 PM

PHUKET: Murder suspect Ronald Fanelli has yet to enter a plea with the Phuket Provincial Court and the American says his detention at Phuket Provincial Prison is making him physically ill.My link

He confirmed having spent three months in treatment at Suan Saranrom Hospital in Surat Thani, which specializes in the treatment of psychiatric conditions......Overcrowding at the prison has led to a lack of cleanliness that has given him scabies and other infections he said, holding up his arms to show his sores........"We sleep asses to elbows here," he said, adding that some inmates appeared to be suffering from active tuberculosis.

continued here...............My link

Why are you posting to old news story? He was convicted and sentenced to 10 years. There is a much newer thread about this case. See: http://www.thaivisa....ket-prosecutor/ And here:

Edited December 17, 2011 by Jimi007