Confessed Killer Lee Aldhouse Gives His First Interview From Phuket Prison

[webfact]

Phuket Gazette Exclusive: Aldhouse – A view from the inside
Phuket Gazette

Lee Aldhouse fought under the name "The Pitbull". Photo: James Goyder

PHUKET: -- Looking exhausted, Lee Aldhouse cut a lonely figure in his faded prison-issue overalls, surrounded by about 20 Thai inmates. He waited for the signal from the prison guard controlling the communication between visitors and inmates – a telephone – before picking up his receiver.

The first thing he said was, "I cannot talk about my impending court case, but we can discuss prison life."

Aldhouse faces charges of premeditated murder under Section 288 of the Thai Criminal Code for the slaying of former US Marine Dashawn Longfellow in 2010. The penalty for that charge is death or a term of imprisonment of 15 to 20 years, but the death penalty will not be considered as he has already confessed to stabbing Mr Longfellow.

Aldhouse has been in Phuket Provincial Prison since December last year, when he became the first person in over 100 years to be extradited from England to Thailand (click here for story). He fled Thailand on August 17, 2010, three days after the murder of 23-year-old Longfellow, and was arrested upon his arrival at Heathrow Airport in London on an unrelated charge.

Before the one-on-one interview with Aldhouse this week, a prison official told the Phuket Gazette that he was starting to adjust to life behind bars and had visits from friends every two weeks.

Speaking softly and calmly through the telephone with his gaze fixed forward, Aldhouse talked about his prison life. His expression changed only when the conversation turned to prison guards. He became uncomfortable, rubbing his head, neck and face compulsively and glancing around the room before looking straight on again.

PRISON LIFE

Aldhouse entered Phuket prison in shackles and chains and admits that he felt unsafe for the first few months. The tough guy persona he had spent years cultivating during his kickboxing career as "The Pitbull" worked against him in jail. He believes that when he fell ill, he wasn’t allowed to get the medical treatment he felt he needed because of his image.

"The guards saw me as a tough Muay Thai boxer," he said.

Trying to come to grips with what was happening around him, he would take notes about daily life and the incidents that occurred in prison. This constant note-taking was a poignant reminder of his new life and what came with it – causing him great stress. Once he stopped chronicling everything that happened to him, he began to feel more at ease and slowly adjusted to his new surroundings.

"I have sort of acclimatized to life in prison. It’s not a good thing, but I had to do it to get by with day-to-day life."

Aldhouse, originally from Birmingham, helps to pass his time in jail by training four Thai inmates in amateur boxing.

"I was asked to do this only because of my fighting background and I have trained the boxers since day one here," he said.

The boxers don’t have a gym as such, but they do have one punching bag and gloves. Training the boxers keeps Aldhouse busy and he spoke with a sense of pride about the tournament his boxers competed in on April 25 at Surat Thani Provincial Prison. Aldhouse doesn’t box, but he enjoys the hands-on aspect of training the inmates.

THE BELLS

Aldhouse does his best to keep to himself in a cell that houses 33 other inmates, explaining in part why he looks so exhausted.

"I can’t sleep at night because the guards ring a bell every 15 minutes, from 8pm to 6am every night."

Phuket Prison Chief Rapin Nichanon explained to the Gazette that the bells are standard procedure at prisons across Thailand.

"The guards ring the bells hourly from 9pm to 6am to let their supervisor know that all is well. It takes about three minutes for all guards to ring in. This system is used in every prison in Thailand," he said.

The only contact Aldhouse has with the outside world is when his girlfriend and a few friends he made before he fled the country in 2010 come to visit him.

ANXIETY

Aldhouse doesn’t send any mail to friends or relatives on the outside as he believes the guards will read it. The mere mention of the guards makes him squirm in his seat, and again he begins to rub his neck and his head.

"The guards have refused to give me my medication for anxiety for the last six weeks," he said.

"Prisoners are allowed medicine only if it has been prescribed by a doctor," Prison Chief Rapin explained.

"They cannot bring their own medicine into the prison and they cannot receive any medicine brought by relatives or friends without presenting to us a prescription from a doctor in Thailand," he said.

"Mr Aldhouse does not have a doctor’s prescription and friends who visited him tried to bring him some medicine a few times. They told us it was for his illness, but we did not allow this because we are not sure if it is genuine medicine or drugs or other dangerous pills," he added.

Regardless, Chief Rapin called a doctor from Vachira Phuket Hospital to examine Aldhouse and confirm that medication was required.

"The doctor ordered an initial course of medication, but after that ran out Mr Aldhouse said he wanted more. The doctor, however, considers further medication unnecessary," he said.

A DIFFERENT VIEW

Seen through the glass, Aldhouse looked like a person who is starting to accept his fate and no longer sees the point in trying to cause a fuss.

He doesn’t like the way the media have portrayed him and he doesn’t understand why the press has chosen to show him in a bad light. Stories surfaced of Aldhouse smashing a flyscreen, fighting with other prisoners and making unrealistic demands.

"I don’t want to be portrayed as an animal in the media. The stories about food and special treatment are all lies."

He was at a loss to understand why people would make something up about him and he couldn’t think of a reason when pushed on the subject. He gestured to the other Thai inmates in the room asking, "Why would I get special meals over them?"

TRIAL

Aldhouse is not due back in court again until August 10, and now that he seems to be coping with life in prison he didn’t seem keen on being moved to a prison in Bangkok after his trial.

"I want to stay here… I don’t want to go to a new prison and have to start from the beginning in a new prison environment," he said.

Phuket Prison was built 115 years ago and meant to house 800 prisoners, but today is home to more than 2,000 inmates.

As the allotted 15 minutes of visiting time drew to a close, Aldhouse asked if the Gazette would come back again and see him in a month or two, but not at 1pm on a Thursday, as that is when he holds a training session with his boxers.

And with that, the phone line was cut off and the inmates filed through the single door back into the belly of the prison.

Additional reporting by Orawin Narabal

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Gazette-Exclusive-Aldhouse-A-view-from-the-inside-20926.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-04-30

[FDog]

Quite interesting but I don't for 1 minute feel sad or sorry for him.

[Treborz]

Boo hoo... you reap what you sow Mr Aldhouse.

[johnnynmonic]

"I don't wanna go to a new prison, I wanna stay here." "I want my tranquilizers, but they won't let me have 'em without a prescription." (paraphrasing, obviously.) Mr. Aldehouse, you aren't free to decide where you go anymore. It's called prison. And you aren't free to medicate yourself anymore - might be a good thing. Though if you're reading this thread, you've probably gained some favors or special treatment to get access to a smart phone.

[lee b]

Do the crime, do the time. Tough if you get moved to Bangkok prison. Oh how i will not feel sorry for you. ( from a fellow brit )

[winstonc]

i wonder if he will get on facebook,seems a popular thing to do,,,,

[LivinginKata]

Let him rot in jail for a very long time.

[bri1guy]

Thai Prison life compared to his home country UK prison life isnt even comparable. He is paying the price.

[transam]

I am not from the USA but have great regard for the US Military guy who did his stuff and was deprived his life by a beaten coward.

[spermwhale]

Regardless. the thing about ringing bells for three minutes every fifteen minutes? What kind of sadism is that? I don't give a rat's ass about this murderer, but to not let the inmates sleep through the night is a form of torture. The guards don't have walkie talkies to check in? Why ring bells? There is only one reason: to harass the prisoners. That's not the idea of prison. It's rehabilitation. That will have long-term physical and psychological effects on the prisoners.

[TradeMark]

Cheerful hang em high bunch on Thai Visa as always... Gets boring and its childish, he's in jail what more do you want?

How bored and twisted have you got to be to condemn someone to rotting in a prison that you don't even know? What gives you the right?

Friend or family or a court official then go ahead but as the public, give it a rest. In the end you no better than the accused by condemning and shaming a human (good or bad) in such a manner.

[angsta]

Can't export a muslim terrorist. But this guy...

[transam]

Cheerful hang em high bunch on Thai Visa as always... Gets boring and its childish, he's in jail what more do you want?

How bored and twisted have you got to be to condemn someone to rotting in a prison that you don't even know? What gives you the right?

Friend or family or a court official then go ahead but as the public, give it a rest. In the end you no better than the accused by condemning and shaming a human (good or bad) in such a manner.

So you want them to play snooker or have a swim or.........................

[oldsailor35]

The man was an arrogant bully and now its his turn to be bullied. Well done the guards,here's hoping they stick it into him every chance they get. He came up against a better man so he killed him. What a grub, make him pay big time.

[TradeMark]

So you want them to play snooker or have a swim or.........................

Are you referring to the obviously bored "board" (excuse the pun) members of Thai Visa who would rather sit behind their computers and pass judgement on someone as opposed to the alternate activities you mentioned?

[oldsailor35]

Cheerful hang em high bunch on Thai Visa as always... Gets boring and its childish, he's in jail what more do you want?

How bored and twisted have you got to be to condemn someone to rotting in a prison that you don't even know? What gives you the right?

Friend or family or a court official then go ahead but as the public, give it a rest. In the end you no better than the accused by condemning and shaming a human (good or bad) in such a manner.

They should execute him, then you won't have any worries about his treatment Trademark ! He has proved his value to society by murdering a fellow human being. Put him where he belongs, in the trash bin.

[transam]

Cheerful hang em high bunch on Thai Visa as always... Gets boring and its childish, he's in jail what more do you want?

How bored and twisted have you got to be to condemn someone to rotting in a prison that you don't even know? What gives you the right?

Friend or family or a court official then go ahead but as the public, give it a rest. In the end you no better than the accused by condemning and shaming a human (good or bad) in such a manner.

So you want them to play snooker or have a swim or.........................

Are you referring to the obviously bored "board" (excuse the pun) members of Thai Visa who would rather sit behind their computers and pass judgement on someone as opposed to the alternate activities you mentioned?

Sorry chum but the stuff above was not written by me except the last line. Very confusing for the reader.

[Tatsujin]

Cheerful hang em high bunch on Thai Visa as always... Gets boring and its childish, he's in jail what more do you want?

How bored and twisted have you got to be to condemn someone to rotting in a prison that you don't even know? What gives you the right?

Friend or family or a court official then go ahead but as the public, give it a rest. In the end you no better than the accused by condemning and shaming a human (good or bad) in such a manner.

Why do you feel the need to 'defend' him?

[monty1412]

while I agree with the comment re bells being rung every 15 minutes being a form of torture and inhumane I would have felt perhaps a moment of empathy for this guy if in his interview he had of expressed even a modicum of extreme remorse and sorrow for the life he took. It will be interesting to see if the passages of hard time make this man realise that its not what happens to him that is important rather what effect he has had on other lives.

Sort of flavour or theme in interview that its still him the fighter versus opponent which is now the prison system rather acceptance that what he did was wrong and these are the consequences.

I feel sorry for the guy in terms of his life ahaed and the sheer wast but I feel sorrier for his victim and their familiy and loved ones.

[TradeMark]

Sorry chum but the stuff above was not written by me except the last line. Very confusing for the reader.

Better?

[kawaiimomo]

Cheerful hang em high bunch on Thai Visa as always... Gets boring and its childish, he's in jail what more do you want?

How bored and twisted have you got to be to condemn someone to rotting in a prison that you don't even know? What gives you the right?

Friend or family or a court official then go ahead but as the public, give it a rest. In the end you no better than the accused by condemning and shaming a human (good or bad) in such a manner.

If they could choose, they would rather let him see being hanged in the main square, or maybe killed by stone throwing...

This guy is pure scumbag for what he did, but the prisons are intended to rehabilitate and give the people a second chance in society after being locked up. Of course, over populated and corrupt officials ruled prisons are probably having a very low success on this, actually he will probably come out being a worst person...

As I said, the guy is scum, but you right winged fascists are no better.

[TradeMark]

I feel sorry for the guy in terms of his life ahaed and the sheer wast but I feel sorrier for his victim and their familiy and loved ones.

Now there's a slightly more adult like and educated feeling towards the accused!

[TradeMark]

Why do you feel the need to 'defend' him?

Defend? Come on with this defending sh1t... I don't even know the guy??

More like confronting childish board members on their ridiculous comments related to all these types of matters!

[Treborz]

So you want them to play snooker or have a swim or.........................

Are you referring to the obviously bored "board" (excuse the pun) members of Thai Visa who would rather sit behind their computers and pass judgement on someone as opposed to the alternate activities you mentioned?

The ironic thing is that you are passing judgement on those who are passing judgement....... hypocrite?

[transam]

The guy was extradited by the UK because of overwhelming evidence. Plain and simple really. A tough guy was killed cos he didn't have his tools of his trade at hand and was killed by a beaten guy with tools to save face, plain and simple.

[Wossnext]

Can't export a muslim terrorist. But this guy...

exactly my thoughts too!

[TradeMark]

They should execute him, then you won't have any worries about his treatment Trademark ! He has proved his value to society by murdering a fellow human being. Put him where he belongs, in the trash bin.

Now Iam worrying about his treatment? Go check the dictionary for the definition of worry... While you at it have a look at a reading course to understand forum posts better. Furthermore have a crack at the bible or any other basic human concept if religion doesn't do it for you. Maybe as some added course work you could sneak a peak at some criminal rehabilitation articles and things pertaining to the judiciary system in general to see how ludicrous your trash bin comment is. Maybe then I would entertain some form of debate with you.

[Para]

Thai Prison life compared to his home country UK prison life isnt even comparable. He is paying the price.

Prison like for a Farrang in Thailand is a lot bettter than back in the UK believe me.

If he has aleady accepted the charge his 15-20 years sentence will be cut in half and he will be back in the UK 4 years after being sentenced.

[TradeMark]

The ironic thing is that you are passing judgement on those who are passing judgement....... hypocrite?

Wow you have to bow down that much to try and defend your actions... Come now?

My COMMENTS as opposed to JUDGEMENTS (go to dictionary) that other board members made were in no way directed nor categorically defined. They were a general commentary observation of the actions of certain members of thaivisa, they were also all outlaid in a questioning stance as opposed to a direct one. If you had even a slightly profound grasp of the english language and read through my posts properly i think you will come to find that no judgement was passed in any way. I do not judge and I did not judge.

[cup-O-coffee]

He is guilty in my mind until I can get a chance to read the interview with US Marine Dashawn Longfellow, but I won't hold my breathe.