Australian Teacher Lucky To Be Alive After Being Shot In The Head In Chiang Mai

[Mario2008]

1 reply deleted as inflametory.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

Welcome to Thailand ! Open for tourist ! If the Drive bys don't get you the hotels will !

[ThaiSold]

Maybe she fired a teacher, then the teacher fired back.

[badmedicine]

Reminds me of a case here in BKK not long ago of a couple of drug dealers on motorbikes that randomly shot at motorists that "annoyed" them for some reason (mostly cos they were just stoned off their heads).

They got caught (one of 'em killed if I remember rightlyt by the BiB) after pot-shotting a car as they were on their way back from a 200,000B-. drug deal. Think they shot at some poor girl who was 'connected', hence BiB finally got their <deleted> into gear (claiming that they'd 'had an eye' on the perpertrators for some time...sigh)

[DumFarang]

Wow, a major outpouring of compassion on this site for somebody who had a near death experience.

[softgeorge]

The Australian media version of events - National Nine news

Aussie teacher injured in Thai shooting

An Australian teacher visiting the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai narrowly escaped serious injury on Sunday when the car she was in came under fire, shattering the vehicle's windows.

Lynda Cody, a teacher from Ringwood Secondary College in Melbourne, sustained a minor head wound when the vehicle carrying her and another Australian, Jess Lambden, was shot at after they left a night market.

The driver, a Thai national and teacher from Montford College in Chiang Mai, sped the vehicle away from the scene.

Montford is a sister school of Ringwood Secondary, and Ms Cody and Ms Lambden had been accompanying students from Ringwood attending Montford during term break in Australia.

No students were with them at the time of the shooting.

A Montford College source said the group left Chiang Mai on Monday and was expected to travel to Australia mid-week. No other college staff were available for comment.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Thai police were investigating.

Australian consular officers are keeping in close contact with Thai authorities about the matter and are providing consular assistance to the teachers and students, DFAT said in a statement.

The incident happened on Sunday evening soon after the women had visited the local market to buy souvenirs to take home, reports said.

The bullets shattered the windscreen and rear window, with Ms Cody being slightly injured when a bullet or shrapnel grazed the back of her skull. She was taken to hospital, where she received six stitches.

Initial reports were unclear whether the attack was by bandits or a road rage incident, according to police sources in Chiang Mai.

"They weren't badly hurt or anything," the source told AAP. "They were shot at; I think it was road rage."

The shooting comes just over five years since a Queensland nurse, Pamela Fitzpatrick, was killed after a drive-by shooting in the town of Kanchanaburi, 150km from Bangkok.

Ms Fitzpatrick was at a bar watching the 2006 football World Cup when a pillion passenger on a motorbike fired a shot.

A bullet lodged in her upper spine and despite intensive care she died days later in a hospital in Bangkok.

Thai police say they believe the gunman was linked with criminal gangs extorting monies from entertainment venues in Kanchanaburi.

[DumFarang]

The Australian media version of events - National Nine news

Aussie teacher injured in Thai shooting

An Australian teacher visiting the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai narrowly escaped serious injury on Sunday when the car she was in came under fire, shattering the vehicle's windows.

Lynda Cody, a teacher from Ringwood Secondary College in Melbourne, sustained a minor head wound when the vehicle carrying her and another Australian, Jess Lambden, was shot at after they left a night market.

The driver, a Thai national and teacher from Montford College in Chiang Mai, sped the vehicle away from the scene.

Montford is a sister school of Ringwood Secondary, and Ms Cody and Ms Lambden had been accompanying students from Ringwood attending Montford during term break in Australia.

No students were with them at the time of the shooting.

A Montford College source said the group left Chiang Mai on Monday and was expected to travel to Australia mid-week. No other college staff were available for comment.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Thai police were investigating.

Australian consular officers are keeping in close contact with Thai authorities about the matter and are providing consular assistance to the teachers and students, DFAT said in a statement.

The incident happened on Sunday evening soon after the women had visited the local market to buy souvenirs to take home, reports said.

The bullets shattered the windscreen and rear window, with Ms Cody being slightly injured when a bullet or shrapnel grazed the back of her skull. She was taken to hospital, where she received six stitches.

Initial reports were unclear whether the attack was by bandits or a road rage incident, according to police sources in Chiang Mai.

"They weren't badly hurt or anything," the source told AAP. "They were shot at; I think it was road rage."

The shooting comes just over five years since a Queensland nurse, Pamela Fitzpatrick, was killed after a drive-by shooting in the town of Kanchanaburi, 150km from Bangkok.

Ms Fitzpatrick was at a bar watching the 2006 football World Cup when a pillion passenger on a motorbike fired a shot.

A bullet lodged in her upper spine and despite intensive care she died days later in a hospital in Bangkok.

Thai police say they believe the gunman was linked with criminal gangs extorting monies from entertainment venues in Kanchanaburi.

This is the article that should have initially been posted. It would have avoided a lot of the banter about grammatical mistakes and unclear events.

[LJW]

Armed bandits??

Sounds like someone wanted a creative 'title'

[cloudhopper]

Wow I had no idea that this type of thing is not that uncommon here. It's already risky enough driving at night around CM.

[chooka]

The Australian media version of events - National Nine news

Aussie teacher injured in Thai shooting

An Australian teacher visiting the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai narrowly escaped serious injury on Sunday when the car she was in came under fire, shattering the vehicle's windows.

Lynda Cody, a teacher from Ringwood Secondary College in Melbourne, sustained a minor head wound when the vehicle carrying her and another Australian, Jess Lambden, was shot at after they left a night market.

The driver, a Thai national and teacher from Montford College in Chiang Mai, sped the vehicle away from the scene.

Montford is a sister school of Ringwood Secondary, and Ms Cody and Ms Lambden had been accompanying students from Ringwood attending Montford during term break in Australia.

No students were with them at the time of the shooting.

A Montford College source said the group left Chiang Mai on Monday and was expected to travel to Australia mid-week. No other college staff were available for comment.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Thai police were investigating.

Australian consular officers are keeping in close contact with Thai authorities about the matter and are providing consular assistance to the teachers and students, DFAT said in a statement.

The incident happened on Sunday evening soon after the women had visited the local market to buy souvenirs to take home, reports said.

The bullets shattered the windscreen and rear window, with Ms Cody being slightly injured when a bullet or shrapnel grazed the back of her skull. She was taken to hospital, where she received six stitches.

Initial reports were unclear whether the attack was by bandits or a road rage incident, according to police sources in Chiang Mai.

"They weren't badly hurt or anything," the source told AAP. "They were shot at; I think it was road rage."

The shooting comes just over five years since a Queensland nurse, Pamela Fitzpatrick, was killed after a drive-by shooting in the town of Kanchanaburi, 150km from Bangkok.

Ms Fitzpatrick was at a bar watching the 2006 football World Cup when a pillion passenger on a motorbike fired a shot.

A bullet lodged in her upper spine and despite intensive care she died days later in a hospital in Bangkok.

Thai police say they believe the gunman was linked with criminal gangs extorting monies from entertainment venues in Kanchanaburi.

This is the article that should have initially been posted. It would have avoided a lot of the banter about grammatical mistakes and unclear events.

Yea nice one George, you killed off the infighting now we have to find another topic to bicker about.

[sbk]

The Australian media version of events - National Nine news

Aussie teacher injured in Thai shooting

An Australian teacher visiting the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai narrowly escaped serious injury on Sunday when the car she was in came under fire, shattering the vehicle's windows.

Lynda Cody, a teacher from Ringwood Secondary College in Melbourne, sustained a minor head wound when the vehicle carrying her and another Australian, Jess Lambden, was shot at after they left a night market.

The driver, a Thai national and teacher from Montford College in Chiang Mai, sped the vehicle away from the scene.

Montford is a sister school of Ringwood Secondary, and Ms Cody and Ms Lambden had been accompanying students from Ringwood attending Montford during term break in Australia.

No students were with them at the time of the shooting.

A Montford College source said the group left Chiang Mai on Monday and was expected to travel to Australia mid-week. No other college staff were available for comment.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Thai police were investigating.

Australian consular officers are keeping in close contact with Thai authorities about the matter and are providing consular assistance to the teachers and students, DFAT said in a statement.

The incident happened on Sunday evening soon after the women had visited the local market to buy souvenirs to take home, reports said.

The bullets shattered the windscreen and rear window, with Ms Cody being slightly injured when a bullet or shrapnel grazed the back of her skull. She was taken to hospital, where she received six stitches.

Initial reports were unclear whether the attack was by bandits or a road rage incident, according to police sources in Chiang Mai.

"They weren't badly hurt or anything," the source told AAP. "They were shot at; I think it was road rage."

The shooting comes just over five years since a Queensland nurse, Pamela Fitzpatrick, was killed after a drive-by shooting in the town of Kanchanaburi, 150km from Bangkok.

Ms Fitzpatrick was at a bar watching the 2006 football World Cup when a pillion passenger on a motorbike fired a shot.

A bullet lodged in her upper spine and despite intensive care she died days later in a hospital in Bangkok.

Thai police say they believe the gunman was linked with criminal gangs extorting monies from entertainment venues in Kanchanaburi.

This is the article that should have initially been posted. It would have avoided a lot of the banter about grammatical mistakes and unclear events.

I believe the original article was published by The Age. An Australian publication. Best to check those things first.

[sbk]

And yet another tabloid style sensationalist headline on this forum. How many have there been, particularly during the 'red' demos last year? And what is the motivation to give an impression of a 'hit' style' attempt 'shot in the head'? When in FACT the teacher sustained a MINOR injury from a piece of the car she was traveling in being fired upon, for as yet, unknown reasons.

Put even more wind up the expat community here why don't you. And don't forget to tip off/mislead the World media.

Best read the original article before casting your arrows about, evanson. Contact the Age and tell them you don't like their headline, only thing TV added was the qualifier Australian.

[geezer553]

The bullet grazed the back of the Ms Cody's skull is in no way the same as shot in the head.

You must be new to Thai Visa.

it would not suprise me if the police said a stray bullet came from a firing range-2 miles away? 2 many people are carrying guns in thailand-i myself was held at gunpoint about 18 months ago

-luckily 4 myself i got out of this unfortanate mess-by fighting back!!! i was shot at but luckily it was only a flesh wound..... thailand has become a very dangerous place---- but that wont put myself off from travelling back to thailand. its a loverly country with some wonderful people-unfortantly you will always find somebody-who believe they are above the law-- i would not recommend people 2 fight back-they might not b so lucky.------

[animatic]

The incident was reported to local police, who are investigating.

Consider it solved.

most probably.

ppppbbbbrbrrrrpt DAH,,, attempted suicide of course.

[mirthseeker]

The Australian media version of events - National Nine news

Aussie teacher injured in Thai shooting

An Australian teacher visiting the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai narrowly escaped serious injury on Sunday when the car she was in came under fire, shattering the vehicle's windows.

Lynda Cody, a teacher from Ringwood Secondary College in Melbourne, sustained a minor head wound when the vehicle carrying her and another Australian, Jess Lambden, was shot at after they left a night market.

The driver, a Thai national and teacher from Montford College in Chiang Mai, sped the vehicle away from the scene.

Montford is a sister school of Ringwood Secondary, and Ms Cody and Ms Lambden had been accompanying students from Ringwood attending Montford during term break in Australia.

No students were with them at the time of the shooting.

A Montford College source said the group left Chiang Mai on Monday and was expected to travel to Australia mid-week. No other college staff were available for comment.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Thai police were investigating.

Australian consular officers are keeping in close contact with Thai authorities about the matter and are providing consular assistance to the teachers and students, DFAT said in a statement.

The incident happened on Sunday evening soon after the women had visited the local market to buy souvenirs to take home, reports said.

The bullets shattered the windscreen and rear window, with Ms Cody being slightly injured when a bullet or shrapnel grazed the back of her skull. She was taken to hospital, where she received six stitches.

Initial reports were unclear whether the attack was by bandits or a road rage incident, according to police sources in Chiang Mai.

"They weren't badly hurt or anything," the source told AAP. "They were shot at; I think it was road rage."

The shooting comes just over five years since a Queensland nurse, Pamela Fitzpatrick, was killed after a drive-by shooting in the town of Kanchanaburi, 150km from Bangkok.

Ms Fitzpatrick was at a bar watching the 2006 football World Cup when a pillion passenger on a motorbike fired a shot.

A bullet lodged in her upper spine and despite intensive care she died days later in a hospital in Bangkok.

Thai police say they believe the gunman was linked with criminal gangs extorting monies from entertainment venues in Kanchanaburi.

This is the article that should have initially been posted. It would have avoided a lot of the banter about grammatical mistakes and unclear events.

I believe the original article was published by The Age. An Australian publication. Best to check those things first.

Not only that, but The Age was quoting the Principal, who is in Australia, for those of you who are confused by the language. And Ringwood S C is a government school, it is currently school holidays (something no-one has picked up), and therefore the teachers would be volunteering their time. It is big news here in this part of Oz. so it won't be doing a segment of the tourist industry any good, nor will it be encouraging schools to further exchange students, and give both Australian and Thai students new perspectives and knowledge.

Maybe instead students will have to research on the net. Hope they don't find this forum!

[housepainter]

From the responses on here alone most are of the opinion that; this is Thailand. Expect no investigation by the police or for anyone to raise an eyebrow about it.

That is the reality.

The place remains lawless whether it be in what is the capitol, where you should find some degree of law and order but don't or ourt in the back country. Emphasis on 'back'.

However, Chiang Mai can hardly be called the back of .......... although having produced Thaksin, we should accept it is as corrupt and dangerous as everywhere else in Thailand.

As for the reporting itself; Thais can't even speak the truth when they intend to. Shot, not shot, grazed, shot in the head. Make your own mind up. Useless journalism.

It's the standard here but whilst we can put up with written inaccuracies in the paper can we tolerate attempted murders at markets on defenceless women tourists?

Obviously the Thai police can.

[LadyHeather]

I would hope most Australian students are smart enough to realize that bad things can happen everywhere in the world and not assume that these things can only happen in Thailand.

Edited July 12, 2011 by LadyHeather

[Activo]

For the bullet to have entered the front winshield, passed through two head rests and then hit her in the back of the head, she would have to have been sat in the boot facing the rear of the car???? Very strange.....

Makes this story I read earlier today seem odd

Melbourne Teacher's car allegedly shot at...

[hellodolly]

Makes this story I read earlier today seem odd

Melbourne Teacher's car allegedly shot at...

Odd indeed.

First of the article says the car was allegedly shot at then it goes on to say and this is a quote

"Thai police are investigating the incident and told the teachers their car may have been shot at."

The Australian article also said the bullet enter through the front wind screen. Where as this one says through the back window.

I personally think we are going to have us another Downtown Inn cover up here. All kinds of shifty people in the back ground cover ups every place you turn. Different stories as to what happened. (We all ready have two) Maybe we can drag in a few unexplained ones from Bangkok and what about the one in Ko Sumuie. Well boys we can ride this one a long way's.

Sorry about the spelling of that island.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

<br />If you observe closely from past and future events such as this - it is strongly suggesting that Farangs are being targeted in all areas of Thailand.  There is a strong presence of "Farang Haters" amongst the general Thai population that have a skewed perception of farangs.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

And the ones exposed to large numbers of us even more so. Skewed yes, but unfair no. Skewed by the very odd sample of the general population they get visiting here, even more so for those that stay.

In most of our countries back home less than 20% of adult males have **ever** visited a pro. Being unfaithful to your spouse is considered unusual, and in fact is relatively infrequent.

But I doubt their perceptions fuel homicidal rage, more like detached bemusement and gratifying self-congratulating reinforcement of the inherent superiority of the "Thai race".

<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This wouldn't have happened in a developed country.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Whatta loada &lt;deleted&gt;.

My theory is also that one of them inadvertently caused a nasty character to publicly lose serious face. Aussies can be a bit "rough around the edges" and many would consider loudly insulting someone par for the course. Particularly if they had been drinking.

Of course it could have been just a very strange random incident, mistaken identity or whatever, they do happen here just as much as anywhere.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

i know there is crime and murder every where in the world  but is it me for such a country that suposed to have such gentle people it seem to me to be a complete nut house  for tourist or any forienger no wonder the wife love the uk<br />and dont want to return there only to visit her family or is it this web site that seem s to vioce crime incidents<br />can we have good news from someone<br />

Thais are brilliant at making everything smooth and lovely **on the surface**, but underneath they're just as close to animal savagery as human beings anywhere in the world. The fact is the things that send them into maniacal rages are often very different from back home, and the Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde surprise to those that thought they knew them, make such events seem bizarre and alien, but it's just human nature.

Always remember that things are not what they seem, and when in Rome - smile, don't mess with people's rice bowl, don't get involved with dodgy people or situations, be polite, speak softly and generally keep your head down and you'll be OK (99.9% of the time).

And if you spend your life focused on avoiding risk you'll have a very boring life.

[foxteen]

Guns: ?? At the time newly elected John Howard did something about them after 56 were killed and injured at the Port Arthur massacre in 1966:

the Federal Government introduced the Medicare Levy Amendment Act 1996 that provided the revenue for the National Firearms Program through a one-off 0.2% increase in the Medicare levy. Known as the gun buy-back scheme, it started across the country on the 1 October 1996 and concluded on the 30 September 1997 ^[22] to purchase and destroy all semi-automatic rifles including .22 rimfires, semi-automatic shotguns and pump-action shotguns. The buyback was predicted to cost $A500 million and had wide community support. (wikipedia)

It seems to have worked for OZ so far

Works well but still lots of guns in the country and shooting happens now and then

[realthaideal]

The Downtowner's now doing outcall.

More good press to boost the tourism numbers !

Glad I decided not to build my boutique hotel/fish spa/ bar/ massage/ coffee/ Thai handicrafts shop (yet).

[chooka]

Pictures from the Age newspaper

[modafinil]

Every death is tragic, but making out that Thailand is some kind of "murder capital of the world" is ridiculous.

Thailand has 5.9 murders per 100,000 people per year

The USA has 5.0 murders per 100,000 people per year

A tourist getting grazed by a stray bullet wouldn't even make the news in the US - but when it happens in Thailand, somehow it is proof that Thailand is a murderous hellhole.

At any given time, there are millions of farang expats/holidaymakers in the country - going by the statistics, 100 farangs would be murdered every year (assuming an average farang population of 2 million).

Is a farang really murdered every 3 days? I don't think so. Which means that expats and tourists are less at risk than Thai people themselves. Maybe Thai people are usually too polite to shoot at farangs?

[jboras]

Road rage or bargained too hard at the Night Bazaar..........Guns at the night Bazar..... nothing new...

[KeyserSoze01]

Even the most stupid, meathead, moronic dickheads would not start firing in a completely illogical random manner. There had to be reason they were firing at this car. Quite possibly mistaken identity, or some sort of dodgy deal gone sour.

Haven't spent much time in Thailand, have you.

[Payboy]

How much longer before she is accused of stealing a beer mat?

[moe666]

As I often say I love the free entertainment here so many morons hiding behind the key board and their monitor. You would never repeat what you write here to anyone if you where face to face with them.

bad things do happen to good people and sometime the case is not solved, happens where I live on a regular basis. People have even gotten away with murder just by claiming not to have been behind the wheel of an auto that did a hit and run, just no way the police could prove it. Random shooting usually no one hit but sometime it does happen.

Hope the lady has a full recovery and please come back to Thailand there are good people here.

[moe666]

How much longer before she is accused of stealing a beer mat?

Can't you do better than this, this is an old reframe.