'I'll be freed' says stabbing accused Swede Tommy Söderlund: Phuket

[webfact]

'I'll be freed' says Phuket stabbing accused
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Tommy Söderlund (right) and Johan Ljung, photographed after their arrest two years ago. TPN file photo

PHUKET: -- Swede Tommy Viktor Söderlund, on trial for the stabbing murder of Russian-Swede Maxim Schantz in Koh Keaw two years ago, appeared in court today (August 9) for a hearing, declaring afterwards that he was confident he would be freed soon.

Söderlund and fellow Swede Johan Sebastian Ljung – both 26 at the time – were arrested for the killing in the chic housing complex, The Lantern, soon after it took place.

Söderlund has denied committing murder, alleging that it was Ljung who stuck the knife into Mr Schantz’s throat, severing the carotid artery.

Initially the two were to be tried together but the court later agreed that they should be tried separately.

Prosecutors, lacking a witness to the killing itself, are having a hard time showing who stabbed Mr Schantz. The only witness against the duo is the owner of a motorbike they stole after climbing a wall during their flight from the murder scene.

It is known that the two were involved with Mr Schantz in call centre scam operation in Pattaya, and that there was a falling-out. But it still has not been revealed why they followed him to Phuket and what they wanted from him.

After today’s hearing Söderlund told The Phuket News in excellent Thai, which he has learned in his two years behind bars, “The reason we came to Phuket had to do with information.” But he did not elaborate.

He added, “I did not do anything. I will be freed.” Was he confident about this? He nodded and replied emphatically, “Yes!”

The next hearing in his trial will be on August 29.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/%E2%80%98i%E2%80%99ll-be-freed%E2%80%99-says-phuket-stabbing-accused-41316.php

-- Phuket News 2013-08-09

[Stradavarius37]

Don't drop the soap!

[laurentbkk]

yeah he didnt do anything ... its only a huge mistake .... its my friend .... well he was there too .... enjoy thai jail .!

[technologybytes]

A conviction should be based on evidence, not suspicion. It sounds like there is no real evidence in this case so I have no doubt that he will be freed, however he will still have spent 2 years of his life in a Thai prison.

A least he's used the time to learn Thai, and no doubt in couple of years we'll see a book!

[gaucho]

the three of them were thieving scum ....ripped a lot of innocent naive people off ....hope they r left to rot ...society would be a better place with them removed from it ...cheers

[CIHUAHUA]

I see the devil in his eyes.

[Whidbeyboy]

Don't drop the soap!

That guy is a real dipshit. He is an accomplice to murder and should be found guilty as a murder.

[andreandre]

Interesting case in them being tried seperately...

I wonder that if Söderlund escapes justice by putting the blame squarely on Ljung, the when Ljung comes before the court that he simply says..'you freed a guilty man!!'

He and he alone killed the other guy..i am innocent 100%...

Then what?

Two creeps , both apparently guilty of killing another human being, get off scot free...quite possible IMO

[morpho]

Both look like real punks!

If Soderlund gets out, no doubt he will kill again...those eyes convey pure evil.

Edited August 10, 2013 by morpho

[Para]

Interesting case in them being tried seperately...

I wonder that if Söderlund escapes justice by putting the blame squarely on Ljung, the when Ljung comes before the court that he simply says..'you freed a guilty man!!'

He and he alone killed the other guy..i am innocent 100%...

Then what?

Two creeps , both apparently guilty of killing another human being, get off scot free...quite possible IMO

Never heard of accused being split in Thailand as you say it gives them a chance to play off each other both blaming the other till one walks then possibly accepting blame hiding behind double jeopardy. Wonder how much they paid for such an exception?

[andreandre]

Interesting case in them being tried seperately...

I wonder that if Söderlund escapes justice by putting the blame squarely on Ljung, the when Ljung comes before the court that he simply says..'you freed a guilty man!!'

He and he alone killed the other guy..i am innocent 100%...

Then what?

Two creeps , both apparently guilty of killing another human being, get off scot free...quite possible IMO

Never heard of accused being split in Thailand as you say it gives them a chance to play off each other both blaming the other till one walks then possibly accepting blame hiding behind double jeopardy. Wonder how much they paid for such an exception?

Surely one can't buy such a decision from a court of law.....

Well worth the baht it that is the case tho'..these guys are basically home free sadly..

Edited August 10, 2013 by andreandre

[belg]

so why are they not free on bail, same same as the trio that killed that drunk american and injured his son ?

plenty of witness there...

[CiaranO]

It seems from reading all these reports that there is very little evidence for their conviction. I suspect he is right and will be freed son.

[NelsonHubbucks]

99.9% of those accused & in Jail say "i'm innocent".. . I hope he also has a law degree to prove it.

[DekDaeng]

A conviction should be based on evidence, not suspicion.

Cut the crap, T.I.T.

"civvies in the Wat were shot by the army'