Phuket jet-ski accident: Australian Thomas Keating faces month-long wait in Thailand

[webfact]

Phuket jet-ski accident: Australian Thomas Keating faces month-long wait in Thailand

Lindsay Murdoch

Emily Woods

 

PHUKET: -- Australian man Thomas Keating has been formally charged with reckless driving causing death, after his partner was killed in a tragic jet-ski crash on the Thai resort island of Phuket.

 

Mr Keating arrived at Phuket police station on Thursday afternoon, supported by his family and the family of his girlfriend Emily Collie.

 

He was formally charged with reckless driving causing death and his passport was confiscated by authorities.

 

Ms Collie, 20, died on Sunday when her jet-ski and Mr Keating's jet-ski collided off Kata Beach. 

 

Full story: http://www.theage.com.au/world/phuket-jetski-accident-australian-thomas-keating-faces-monthlong-wait-in-thailand-20170209-gu99s6.html

 

 

-- © Copyright The Age 2017-02-09

[zaphod reborn]

Basically it's institutionalized kidnapping, holding him in Thailand, until the conniving authorities get paid off by the family, then, magically, the charges are dropped.  Absolutely revolting.

[Psimbo]

Wasn't Murdoch the Champion of Mr Morison who faded away into the sunset as well? 

 

He puts himself across as an 'expert' on Thailand and the underdog- I seem to remember he defended beermat-gate as well..

[Thechook]

39 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

Basically it's institutionalized kidnapping, holding him in Thailand, until the conniving authorities get paid off by the family, then, magically, the charges are dropped.  Absolutely revolting.

Both his family and those of Emily are in Thailand and supporting him.  Both families have come together, are supporting each other.  The come from a small real town in Victoria.  The parents of Emily do not hold him accountable and they say they were in love and it was just a tragic accident.

[Thechook]

47 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

Basically it's institutionalized kidnapping, holding him in Thailand, until the conniving authorities get paid off by the family, then, magically, the charges are dropped.  Absolutely revolting.

Funny you should say that as there is fund raising in his town and Australia to raise money for him in the hope he can say goodbye to the one he loved at her funeral.  Problem is authorities may wait to see how much is raised for them

 

[oldgent]

this is outrages , on what grounds? on what evidence do they possess to even consider charges against this poor guy

he will carry this to his death ,he will never forget. or do they have to prosecute him in order 

for the Jet Ski operator can get compensation. 

[Thechook]

 Australian Thomas Keating pleads guilty in jet ski crash that killed girlfriend.

 

 Ms Collie's family released a statement saying they did not blame him for the tragic accident and wished to grieve together.

 

"We do not place any blame on Tom Keating, who we care about very much and who we know loved Emily deeply," a family statement said.

 

"We are all heartbroken beyond words, and at this extremely sad time, we wish to be together with our family, with Tom, and with other loved ones to grieve and celebrate Emily's life."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-10/australian-pleads-guilty-to-jet-ski-crash/8257454

 

[mduras01]

It's called manslaughter, unfortunately.


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[Thechook]

32 minutes ago, mduras01 said:

It's called manslaughter, unfortunately.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

I doubt you would get a man slaughter charge to stick.  Both were riding a jetski for the 1st time and we're trying to splash water on each other, both were being reckless and inexperienced.  A coronial inquiry would find that she contributed to her own death.

[webfact]

Phuket jet-ski death: Victim’s family show strong support as devastated boyfriend charged

The Phuket News

 

In a strong show of support for Mr Keating, members of both families and Mr Keating all held hands as they entered the police station. Photo: Premkamon Ketsara

 

PHUKET: -- Australian tourist Thomas Keating was formally charged with reckless driving causing death at Karon Police Station this morning (Feb 9).

 

The charges are for the fatal jet-ski collision last Sunday (Feb 5) that resulted in the death of his girlfriend of two years, Emily Jayne Collie, a 20-year-old student from Victoria, Australia.

 

Mr Keating, 22, and Ms Collie were riding jet-skis near Kata Beach at 4:45pm when they collided in the water at high speed, leaving Ms Collie with severe injuries to her neck and shoulders.

 

Mr Keating said strong sunlight reflected off the sea and made it impossible to see the jet-ski of Ms Collie, leading to the crash.

 

Despite efforts by rescue workers on the beach, Ms Collie was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

 

Mr Keating arrived at Karon Police Station today at about 10:30am, accompanied by Ms Collie’s family. His father arrived a few moments later.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-jet-ski-death-victim-family-show-strong-support-as-devastated-boyfriend-charged-60977.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-02-10

[pattjock]

The only guilty party here is the Thai authorities openly allowing people without a legal licence to drive a jetski.

 

A helmsmans license is required to drive a jetski same as a drivers license is required to drive a motorbike. To allow people to drive any of these vehicles without a license is an invitation for things like this to happen.

[happyas]

4 hours ago, Thechook said:

I doubt you would get a man slaughter charge to stick.  Both were riding a jetski for the 1st time and we're trying to splash water on each other, both were being reckless and inexperienced.  A coronial inquiry would find that she contributed to her own death.

"Both were riding a jetski for the 1st time and we're trying to splash water on each other, both were being reckless and inexperienced.  "

You know this how?

[Thechook]

2 minutes ago, happyas said:

"Both were riding a jetski for the 1st time and we're trying to splash water on each other, both were being reckless and inexperienced.  "

You know this how?

Because he said it was their 1st time on jetski and they were trying to splash water on each other.  That's reckless and 1st timers is inexperienced.  How's that.

[happyas]

2 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Because he said it was their 1st time on jetski and they were trying to splash water on each other.  That's reckless and 1st timers is inexperienced.  How's that.

 

Thank you, i have not seen any such info, so is why i asked you.

I do agree that if that is so , that it is indeed reckless.

Any chance of a link to that, or a "quote" 

[Thechook]

2 minutes ago, happyas said:

 

Thank you, i have not seen any such info, so is why i asked you.

I do agree that if that is so , that it is indeed reckless.

Any chance of a link to that, or a "quote" 

Yes my post at ID 7. 8 posts above this one.

[transam]

Sad story, incredibly daft in my opinion...I hope the word gets out so holiday folk are warned of what may happen if they use these rides and have a problem.

 

If it does, just maybe the trade will take a big hit..

[anon4637435435]

For anyone that cant see this is Thailand yet again putting blame on farang to save face or whatever stupid reason probably just to pay for the jetskis heres a little info...

 

Anyone operating a Jet Ski in Phuket is required by law to hold documents indicating they are "Second Class Helmsmen of Power Driven Sea-going Vessels." This is obviously a requirement that is difficult to fulfill and one that is rarely checked by either those who rent Jet Skis or the authorities. Unfortunately, the only time it becomes important is if the person on the Jet Ski has an accident. The penalty for operating a Jet Ski without this documentation can be a fine of up to 10,000 baht or even imprisonment.

 

Seems to me the authorities are to blame. Where are the pople checking for licenses. Who even knows they are required. Not just for all jetski related incidents but all motorcycle related for which a valid license is also required. Shame thailand.

[Adeeos]

Disgusting, it obviously was an accident,,, and now he's charged with a terrible crime,,, However,, IF he were the Son of a policeman,,,He could hack a hadicapt bread seller to death with a machete, while being under-aged drunk,,,, Or a hiso car seller, drive drunk/high, incinerate a couple college students,, refuse drug testing, etc,,, allll walk free,,, nothing to see here,, please move along,,, etc, etc,etc,etc,etc,,,,,,,,, SO glad I left the s#$%hole,,, and am planning on moving to Vietnam,,, GOOOOD ridence,,,,, 

[happyas]

Wondering why the organisers of this forum see the need to keep opening new threads on this topic.

Is there any reason to have four running at the same time on the same topic 

Surely the four can be condensed into one.

[USPatriot]

Sure punish a guy for an accident makes sence. Not!

[happyas]

24 minutes ago, bsdthai said:

For anyone that cant see this is Thailand yet again putting blame on farang to save face or whatever stupid reason probably just to pay for the jetskis heres a little info...

 

Anyone operating a Jet Ski in Phuket is required by law to hold documents indicating they are "Second Class Helmsmen of Power Driven Sea-going Vessels." This is obviously a requirement that is difficult to fulfill and one that is rarely checked by either those who rent Jet Skis or the authorities. Unfortunately, the only time it becomes important is if the person on the Jet Ski has an accident. The penalty for operating a Jet Ski without this documentation can be a fine of up to 10,000 baht or even imprisonment.

 

Seems to me the authorities are to blame. Where are the pople checking for licenses. Who even knows they are required. Not just for all jetski related incidents but all motorcycle related for which a valid license is also required. Shame thailand.

 

I disagree that the authorities are to blame..re checking licences etc.

 

Having a license does not make one more smart, it only means that you have passed a basic test to operate a machine.

Experience and competency usually comes over a long period of time.

 

Getting smarter and more aware? not always.

 

Many licensed riders of bikes or jetskis suffer injuries or even death IF they carry on like fools and push the boundaries .

 

At the age of this guy, licence or not, doing what he was doing was looking for trouble, and sadly he found it.

 

Many of us have done similar stuff at the same age, many of us got away with it..i know i did for sure.

[connda]

If he was a Thai national, a simply wai and apology to the family would suffice.

[webfact]

Phuket jet-ski crash: Aussie tourist Keating pleads guilty, reduced sentence, expedited trial likely

Yutthawat Lekmak

 

Phuket jet-ski crash: Aussie tourist Keating pleads guilty, reduced sentence, expedited trial likely

 

PHUKET: -- Australian tourist Thomas Keating yesterday accepted a plea of guilty to the charge of reckless driving causing death for the jet-ski accident last Sunday that killed his girlfriend of two years, Emily Collie, 20, in a move that police say will expedite proceedings against him.

 

Mr Keating was formally charged at Karon Police Station yesterday, with strong support from his family as well as from the family of Ms Collie.

“During the seven hours while investigators questioned him, he accepted a plea of guilty,” Karon Police Chief Col Sanya Thongsawad confirmed to The Phuket News this morning (Feb 10).

 

“In his statement to police, he explained that on Sunday Feb 5, 2017 he and his girlfriend rented jet-skis at Karon Beach,” Col Sanya said.

 

“A big wave surged while they were zigzagging, causing the two jet-skis to collide,” he explained.

 

“Mr Keating was very sad while recounting all this to the investigators,” Col Sanya said.

 

Explaining the seven hours taken to question Mr Keating, Col Sanya said, “When we were first questioning him with his lawyer, he rejected the charge. At 12:30pm, we took a two-hour break for lunch.

 

“He returned with his lawyer at 2:30pm and during the following three hours he accepted the charge,” Col Sanya said.

 

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-jet-ski-crash-aussie-tourist-keating-pleads-guilty-reduced-sentence-expedited-trial-likely-60983.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2017-02-10

[canopus1969]

seven hours while investigators questioned him 

[transam]

Sounds like stuff is sorted...

[garryjohns]

“A big wave surged while they were zigzagging, causing the two jet-skis to collide,” he explained.

 

Hmmmm a big wave Karon /Kata in February??

 

Anyways it is Thai proceedure to lay charges initially in any death caused by another person.

 

He will get very little in way of punishment from the law.

 

However he will live forever regretting his fooling around and bad choices that he made on that day that ended up with him taking the life of another human being ,moreso that she was his bride to be.

 

[transam]

6 minutes ago, garryjohns said:

“A big wave surged while they were zigzagging, causing the two jet-skis to collide,” he explained.

 

Hmmmm a big wave Karon /Kata in February??

 

Anyways it is Thai proceedure to lay charges initially in any death caused by another person.

 

He will get very little in way of punishment from the law.

 

However he will live forever regretting his fooling around and bad choices that he made on that day that ended up with him taking the life of another human being ,moreso that she was his bride to be.

 

A big wave can and will be caused by another craft...Seems you have never be to sea in a small or big craft....

[garryjohns]

8 minutes ago, transam said:

A big wave can and will be caused by another craft...Seems you have never be to sea in a small or big craft....

You really are desperate .

[transam]

3 minutes ago, garryjohns said:

You really are desperate .

Have you ever been at sea in a small craft having fun and what that small craft can do....?

[mcfish]

Lucky for him he has close family. Most 2 week millionaires would have no further funds and would rely heavily on their first pay check when they get back

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