Two Thai Men Confess To Killing Aussie Michelle Smith For '300 Baht'

[eezergood]

First of all that s a good thing the killers were caught . The second thing ..why police have to share the reward ? isn't it their job to investigate ? killing someone for 10$ , I just wonder in which world we are living . I guess the tourism will be hurt with such news. what a great publicity ... I also saw the result of the trial in court for the 16yo driver without permit who killed 9 people in Bangkok last year has been postponed .. when you have money you can still walk away after killing 9 persons , when you are nothing in the social life of Thais , police catch you in days and get reward .... something I would love to understand ...another Amazing thailand campaign .

Helps when your father is a senior member of the police also!

[dingdang]

what knife was it in the picture - the actual murder weapon?

did they find it with the guy?

were there still blood-particles of the victims found on the knife, and maybe even his clothes?

as they wash everything freezing cold here, they are probably not gone yet..

Edited June 26, 2012 by dingdang

[Nisa]

How very freaking sad. Here is a Youtube video of the assault (you need to be logged in to show you are over 18)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGj4PPiNn1U

The guy violently attacks the women which is sick but I want to scream when I see the women fighting with him and not giving up her purse (which it appears he never got). How sad and tragic. I feel horrible for this women and her family but it just gets me so mad that people would fight an armed robber over possessions. The poor women looks like she fought out of instinct as it happened very fast but just like police are trained, people also need to train themselves to put their safety first in such circumstances. We can't control every criminal but we need to do what we can to minimize the damage they can cause us and our family.

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed:

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[bangkokheat]

They say they didn't mean to kill her. Bullsh#t. You carry a knife and use it in a robbery, then you know someone could die. Scum.

Seems the defense would argue the knife was for cutting the bag straps... Just saying...

Not trying to be Sherlock Holmes here, but looking at the picture, where it says a re-enactment, of the suspect holding the knife, doesnt look like a grip that would normall be used to cut a strap??

good observation, I agree with you now that you pointed it out, it was also stated previously that it was a 10cm knife, the one on reenactment was much bigger, that is if they replicated the knife

[bangkokheat]

what knife was it in the picture - the actual murder weapon?

did they find it with the guy?

were there still blood-particles of the victims found on the knife, and maybe even his clothes?

as they wash everything freezing cold here, they are probably not gone yet..

nah they only found the sheath for the knife

[Ulysses G.]

The police keep the reward money? What a $#@! joke.

If they caught the guys that did it, why shouldn't they get the reward money? Can't see a problem with that.

[Asiantravel]

They just showed the two suspects on ABC Australian television news. Both handcuffed as they were explaining they didn't intend to stab the deceased but were trying to cut the straps of her bag.

How utterly dumb and senseless is what I say.

[Nigel1500]

Anyone confesses after a bit of police torture and political pressure. Be you that they will get a seat sentence without being represented by a lawyer because they can't afford one. The real killers might still be out though, which is not important, case solved (maybe)

You're obviously a better investigator than the Royal Thai Police .... not !!!

[Nisa]

The police keep the reward money? What a $#@! joke.

If they caught the guys that did it, why shouldn't they get the reward money? Can't see a problem with that.

Police don't keep the reward were I am from since it is against the rules but the do get medals and promotions for solving cases and if they are big enough they write books and retire or even commit perjury on the stand and go on to not just write books but becoming talking heads on Fox News (Mark Furhman). Then again, this is Thailand and not were I come from.

In this case it was the hotel the women were staying and the police who put up the reward. The restaurant/bar owner where the two robbers owed money identified them initially from the video but said he has no interest in the reward and just wanted to do the right thing for his community.

When the police investigators split the reward of the American who killed the Thai girl and stuffed her in a suitcase thrown in the street, that reward money was from the police or possible from a Police Colonel personally as news reports at the time indicated that Colonel Wanchai Eakpornpit, posted the 50,000 reward, .

Edited June 26, 2012 by Nisa

[Nigel1500]

No doubt that 300,000 reward money will again be divided up by the police but who cares if in fact they did get the the lowlifes that did it. But you never know, they may have just grabbed some patsies to look good for island tourism.

Just like Miami, hey Bob? Except the Royal Thai Police didn't need to bash these suspects to a pulp, nor use a tazer !!!

[bridge2bridge]

Be you that they will get a seat sentence without being represented by a lawyer because they can't afford one.

How little you know about the Thai judicial system. Everyone has a lawyer made available to them either a decent paid one or a free one regardless of nationality. By confessing they have basically accepted the guilty charge so that gets their sentence cut in half. They could get a sentence as low as 15 years which if they are clever and make their way up the prison grading system earn higher annual reduction in the Kings birthday. They could be out in less than 6 years.

That said IMO they should be given and serve a full 25 years.

I am very well versed with the way the courts work here.....

In Australia they would not even get 15 years.

At least in Thailand they get more.

Which they truly deserve.

[ttelise]

"no intention of killing Mrs Smith". ??...well that's ok then, let them go.

Actually the victims family might have a different idea. If you carried a knife, chose a random person in the street and then stabbed them in the heart....if difficult to come to any conclusion other than you had every intention to kill them,

In the US it is felony murder. Death occurring during commission of a felony is first degree. No consequence if one did not intend to kill provided they intended commission of the felony. Transferred intent

[sportsman69]

"TWO men accused of killing Perth travel agent Michelle Smith in Phuket have confessed, saying they attacked her to get $10 to pay for drinks, Thai police say.

Thai police said the men admitted attempting to rob Mrs Smith of $10 to pay for a drinks bill at a nearby bar.

The pair, who were captured on CCTV as they rode the getaway motorcycle after slashing Mrs Smith and friend Tammee Lynn, were arrested in Samutsakhon province, near Bangkok."

Not sure how to interpret this . . . Were the accused killers drinking at the same bar with the victim and her friend? Or were they trying to collect on an unpaid bill? Or most likely they owed 300 baht to a bar, and went after what they considered easy theft targets?

Has anyone seen further details that explain how the accused picked these victims?

Apologies if any of this was answered whilst I was writing this post and any of mine below are dupes.

Word on the street says that they were drinking / eating at a joint in Chalong which is about 15 mins ride from the murder scene, left saying that they would return to pay the 300 baht tab. Seems like they were known to this establishment. Someone at the bar blew the whistle when they heard about it on Thai news. Said he didn't want any reward, just acting in the public's interest.

Re the weapon. Read elsewhere it was a double edged blade of 150 cm, very nasty, hardly what you would carry just to cut handbag straps and used to strike twice. Cannot verify this info, I was not a witness, just read it somewhere. Knife used in the re-enactment is probably a rubber toy to represent " a knife ". Don't think even the Thai police would give him the real thing even if they had it. The actual weapon has not yet been found, only it's (a) sheath.

Totally agree with the poster who commented that the grip used is hardly that you would use simply to cut a bag strap. Stupid prerp probably didn't realise that he was being given, or had a chance, to explain it was a simple bag snatch gone wrong. Hope the prosecutor picks up on this. With this in mind the re-enactment in this case is a good thing, and could prove the guilt if they were to change their plea. Shame it had a Barnum and Bailey tone to it

Edit; Clarification of events.

Edited June 26, 2012 by sportsman69

[jackspratt]

In Australia they would not even get 15 years.

For manslaughter, perhaps not. For murder, certainly yes - given the race to the bottom for all the "we are tougher on crime" politicians.

[EyesWideOpen]

Some farangs will not ever be happy here even if they get what they want and Thailand has the same type rigid control of the country they fled.

Maybe.........there is a certain suspicion of any actions on the part of the police on behalf of some Thai Visa members. This could possibly stem from the instance where the chief of police for the entire frigging country of Thailand was indited for murder and extortion over the blue diamond case.... So as I said before if they actually caught the bad guys, great. If they stitched up some guys for the crime because they were getting calls from Yingluck to solve this case immediately, that would not be out of the realm of possibility.

The police taking the reward money themselves simply falls under the realm of bad taste. They should have said how bad they felt about the murder and donated the money to the family of the murdered woman.... But that would be forward thinking.....

[Nisa]

"no intention of killing Mrs Smith". ??...well that's ok then, let them go.

Actually the victims family might have a different idea. If you carried a knife, chose a random person in the street and then stabbed them in the heart....if difficult to come to any conclusion other than you had every intention to kill them,

In the US it is felony murder. Death occurring during commission of a felony is first degree. No consequence if one did not intend to kill provided they intended commission of the felony. Transferred intent

It would depend on the state in the US. Most states do have a "Felony Murder Rule" and most you can also be put to death. So, the getaway driver waiting in the car can be put to death because his friend goes in to steal a case of beer from a liquor store but ends up killing the clerk who tries to stop him with a gun the getaway driver didn't know he had. In fact, it is not uncommon for the guy who did the actual killing to rollover on the driver and receive a lighter sentence than the driver. However, we are not in the US (thankfully) and although I am not sure on Thai law, I believe more of a punishment will go the guy who did the stabbing if all other things are even (past record, admission, remorse... ) but from what I have read, they have both been charged with murder.

[moskito]

AGAIN the gangsters are from Nakhon Sri Thammarat ... is it only me or is it obviously very very often that many scumbags came from this area?

Whenever I read about a crime, its 80% ppl from Nakhon Sri Thammarat involved....

[catweazle]

Well, looks like they really got them. Hope they do life in the slammer and will not get away with manslaughter on half a sentence.

Just my few cents to some comments and questions:

RIP and sincerest condolences to the victim and family have been given in high numbers in previous posts. This was a follow up thread on the story with members who have been discussing the issue from the very start. However, thanks to the kind person who asked why nobody mentions RIP to the victim.

How the police got them so fast? Just look around and open your eyes and ears. Thais always are on the alert and are very curious or better let's say nosy about what is going on around them. You are always asked, "pai nai?" "tam arai?" "pai nai maa?" wherever you go. They actually talk together 24/7 and info and rumours spread fast, almost at lightning speed. Very difficult to get away with murder here unless you wore an invisibility cloak. My guess is that the blue bike that was left behind some time later led them to the culprits. In any case - congratulations to a job well done! Whatever happens with reward monies, etc... Most important for the victim's family is closure.

What really worries me is that in many of the extremely violent cases of theft, manslaughter, and murder here in Thailand, the bad guys origin from Nakhon Sri Thammarat!!! I am observing this now for over 20 years and really wonder - how comes that one particular province produces the majority of criminals in this country??? If any preemptive measures seriously are considered, perhaps investigators should start at the root of the problem, what obviously seems to be Nakhon Sri Thammarat itself ?

[Lite Beer]

Phuket locals outraged by stab attack re-enactment

Phuket Gazette –

A Phuket Police officer moves in to keep the peace as some of the local residents voice their anger this morning. The signs reads: 'Don't accuse us. Karon people did not do it'. Photo: Orawin Narabal

PHUKET: Police staved off scenes of chaos this morning as local residents shouted out insults at the two suspects who were required by police to carry out a public re-enactment of the botched bag-snatch that led to the fatal stabbing of Australian tourist Michelle Smith.

Police intervened and kept the angry crowd members at bay.

Surasak Suwannachote, who confessed to stabbing Mrs Smith, and Surin Thatthong, the driver of the motorbike used in the attack, re-enacted the crime in front of the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort this morning.

However, as the two suspects tried to carry out their instructions, some members of the 100-strong crowd closed in.

“Take them to the prison. Take them there and make them comfortable, feed them well and offer them a free place to stay forever,” one lady called out sarcastically.

“You are such a rubbish…You are a citizen of this country, but you are such an embarrassment for this world,” yelled another woman.

Police were ordered to stand by several members of the crowd to make sure tempers did not get out of control.

Some villagers held signs up saying “We are local residents, we will not ruin Phuket” and “We are Karon residents, we don’t welcome people from other provinces who cause trouble”.

To avoid potential violence, police sped along the process by having officers create “safe corridors” through the crowd and keeping the more vocal members close at hand.

Many of the locals also praised the police for catching the two suspects so quickly, some even broke into applause.

“Thank you for catching them, and thank you for keeping them off the streets,” one man shouted.

After the re-enactment had concluded, the signs were posted on to a prominent roadside wall near the hotel – as a deterrent to other criminals looking to operate in the area.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article16277.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-06-26

[ttelise]

Some farangs will not ever be happy here even if they get what they want and Thailand has the same type rigid control of the country they fled.

Maybe.........there is a certain suspicion of any actions on the part of the police on behalf of some Thai Visa members. This could possibly stem from the instance where the chief of police for the entire frigging country of Thailand was indited for murder and extortion over the blue diamond case.... So as I said before if they actually caught the bad guys, great. If they stitched up some guys for the crime because they were getting calls from Yingluck to solve this case immediately, that would not be out of the realm of possibility.

The police taking the reward money themselves simply falls under the realm of bad taste. They should have said how bad they felt about the murder and donated the money to the family of the murdered woman.... But that would be forward thinking.....

Not forward thinking. Just show they care about something other than money. Cops should not have to be bribed with rewards to do the jobs they are paid to do.

Edited June 26, 2012 by ttelise

[catweazle]

AGAIN the gangsters are from Nakhon Sri Thammarat ... is it only me or is it obviously very very often that many scumbags came from this area?

Whenever I read about a crime, its 80% ppl from Nakhon Sri Thammarat involved....

Wow - Moskito - that was mind reading... Typed my Nakhon Sri Thammarat thoughts while you posted it... Did not research that much to come up with an exact percentage, but if your numbers are correct, then 80% is aome pretty F&*%$d messy $#it! Looks like they got a special breeding ground for low lifes in NST... Very disturbing, indeed!

[Nisa]

Some farangs will not ever be happy here even if they get what they want and Thailand has the same type rigid control of the country they fled.

Maybe.........there is a certain suspicion of any actions on the part of the police on behalf of some Thai Visa members. This could possibly stem from the instance where the chief of police for the entire frigging country of Thailand was indited for murder and extortion over the blue diamond case.... So as I said before if they actually caught the bad guys, great. If they stitched up some guys for the crime because they were getting calls from Yingluck to solve this case immediately, that would not be out of the realm of possibility.

The police taking the reward money themselves simply falls under the realm of bad taste. They should have said how bad they felt about the murder and donated the money to the family of the murdered woman.... But that would be forward thinking.....

Not forward thinking. Just show they care about something other than money. Cops should not have to be bribed with rewards to the jobs they are paid to do.

It is better to give to somebody who comes forward to help the police only because they will get financial gain from it but otherwise might keep their mouth shut? And you think most of the cops in the world would do their job if they didn't get paid or didn't have any monetary incentive such as keeping their job or getting promoted? Why is a medal any different than money except that they are culturally different was to reward people. Why is it OK for civilians in a job to get a bonus for a job well done but not a low paid worker who risks their lives for the safety of the public. There is absolutely no indication what-so-ever this case would not have been solved by the police if not for the reward. A reward is usually to get a friend of the criminals to snitch and personally I believe the police are more deserving than a friend who only comes forward for personal gain. Regardless, this is obviously the way things are done here and we should try to accept it and understand it even if it goes against what we were brought up to believe.

[stiggy]

The knife in reanactment is wooden.Do those asking questions about the knife expect them to be handed the original weapon or a real knife?

As for the conspiracy guys on here and whiners, they put up a reward and here it brings results simple.

Had that been my wife stabbed I'd be thankful for the swift police result.

No it's not right when compared to the western views of many, but this is Thailand and how things work.

I wonder how many complaining often break western values or laws whilst residing here?

Drink driving, enjoying the women, dodging taxes,lieing for there visas,cheating on partner, owning property on dodgy companies etc etc.

Just find it all a bit hypocritical.

( disclaimer) to those that are perfect don't get the ump it's a generalisation

[Jimi007]

Some farangs will not ever be happy here even if they get what they want and Thailand has the same type rigid control of the country they fled.

Maybe.........there is a certain suspicion of any actions on the part of the police on behalf of some Thai Visa members. This could possibly stem from the instance where the chief of police for the entire frigging country of Thailand was indited for murder and extortion over the blue diamond case.... So as I said before if they actually caught the bad guys, great. If they stitched up some guys for the crime because they were getting calls from Yingluck to solve this case immediately, that would not be out of the realm of possibility.

The police taking the reward money themselves simply falls under the realm of bad taste. They should have said how bad they felt about the murder and donated the money to the family of the murdered woman.... But that would be forward thinking.....

Not forward thinking. Just show they care about something other than money. Cops should not have to be bribed with rewards to do the jobs they are paid to do.

Do you know what the base salary for police is in Thailand? I thought not... Why do you think they pay to be assigned to Phuket? Do you have a clue? Apparently not.

[Nisa]

AGAIN the gangsters are from Nakhon Sri Thammarat ... is it only me or is it obviously very very often that many scumbags came from this area?

Whenever I read about a crime, its 80% ppl from Nakhon Sri Thammarat involved....

I think it is only you but sounds like you maybe had a girl burn you from Nakhon Si Thammarat and it is clouding your thinking. I am very familiar with the Nakhon and notice it when it comes up in the news.

You should try to visit. It is one of my favorite places in Thailand. Great people, easy to get to, inexpensive, relaxed, beautiful beaches, mountains, parks, water falls and lots of history.

Edited June 26, 2012 by Nisa

[atsiii]

First of all that s a good thing the killers were caught . The second thing ..why police have to share the reward ? isn't it their job to investigate ? killing someone for 10$ , I just wonder in which world we are living . I guess the tourism will be hurt with such news. what a great publicity ... I also saw the result of the trial in court for the 16yo driver without permit who killed 9 people in Bangkok last year has been postponed .. when you have money you can still walk away after killing 9 persons , when you are nothing in the social life of Thais , police catch you in days and get reward .... something I would love to understand ...another Amazing thailand campaign .

Oh, monkeys killing someone for peanuts is not peculiar to Thailand. It's happened in the UK, the US, and no doubt many other developed countries.

I'm so sick of hearing this sentiment; what exactly is your point, JohnAllan? That two wrongs somehow make a right? That if people are murdered somewhere else in the world, then it's okay for them to be murdered here? I suppose as long as women are raped somewhere else in the world, then it's okay for them to be raped here? If there is corruption somewhere else in the world, then it's okay for there to be pervasive corruption here? As long as one can point to something bad happening somewhere else in the world, then we don't have to be concerned with bad things that happen here? What exactly is your point?

In turth, statistics show there are 2X the number of murders per capita in Thailand than in the "wild and wooly, gun-crazy USA." 2X !! IMO, the question that needs be asked is, "Why?" Nothing can be improved unless and until you first recognize there is a problem that needs improvement. How does dimissing any and all criticism because, "the same thing happens elsewhere, " improve anything, anywhere?

Edited June 26, 2012 by atsiii

[Nisa]

Angry mob hurl abuse at accused killers of Michelle Smith

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/top-stories/angry-mob-hurl-abuse-at-the-accused-killers/story-e6frg12l-1226409540934

Sounds like the locals have had enough and are ready to reclaim their island from the scum it has been attracting and the image it has gotten since the Tsunami. Maybe it is just me but seems the place has really gone down hill and has a completely different image in terms of the people it is attracting both foreign and domestic.

[catweazle]

AGAIN the gangsters are from Nakhon Sri Thammarat ... is it only me or is it obviously very very often that many scumbags came from this area?

Whenever I read about a crime, its 80% ppl from Nakhon Sri Thammarat involved....

I think it is only you but sounds like you maybe had a girl burn you from Nakhon Si Thammarat and it is clouding your thinking. I am very familiar with the Nakhon and notice it when it comes up in the news.

You should try to visit. It is one of my favorite places in Thailand. Great people, easy to get to, inexpensive, relaxed, beautiful beaches, mountains, parks, water falls and lots of history.

Not true! I strongly agree with Moskito and said the same thing myself independently before and also in this thread! I never had any girl from NST, perhaps this is why I am still alive... You can easily do some research yourself in old Gazette articles. NST pops up in many cases as birth place of crooks spreading violence all over this country. Ask any Thai person (who is not from Nakhon) and they will tell you that residents there are well-known for being hot-tempered, violent and out of control. That stabbing mother#%&*r sure made his home town proud...

[Nisa]

In turth, statistics show there are 2X the number of murders per capita in Thailand than in the "wild and wooly, gun-crazy USA." 2X !!

You might want to double check your facts (incorrect facts).