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Witnesses Say They Saw British Tourist Being Gunned Down
Posted by Terrance Mann
Two eyewitnesses testified today against a Thai policeman accused of gunning down two young British tourists, and a prosecution lawyer called it a breakthrough in the case.
The evidence from two Thais who live near the site of last year's killings, came on the second day of the trial of Sergeant Somchai Visetsingha, who is accused of murdering Adam Lloyd, 25, and Vanessa Arscott, 24, both from Devon, in the popular River Kwai tourist town of Kanchanaburi.
A Thai man and a woman who live in separate homes near the shooting site on a street in Kanchanaburi, 70 miles from Bangkok were two of the four witnesses who testified today.
Both told the court that they saw Vanessa being shot, said prosecution lawyer Sanhawit Saimara.
"The evidence of these two eyewitnesses was a real benefit to our case," he added.
Two other locals who live near the site of the shooting but were too frightened to leave their homes when they heard the shootings, also gave evidence today.
In the opening day, prosecution witness Nonglak Tarranachart said she saw Mr Lloyd chasing Somchai and kicking him.
The policemen then got into his car and followed the Briton. Later she heard six gunshots.
Her husband said they witnessed the assault from their home but only heard the shots.
Another witness said he saw Somchai trying to pull Vanessa into his car and also heard shots.
He then saw the bodies of both Britons.
The policeman is charged with the premeditated murder of Mr LLoyd, from Torquay, and Vanesssa, from Ashburton, in order to conceal evidence, possession of an unlicensed gun, and carrying a weapon in a public place without permission.
Somchai has pleaded not guilty, but immediately after his arrest he told police that he had killed the tourists.
He said he drew his pistol and shot Mr Lloyd in a fit of fury after the Briton spat in his face during an argument, but that he had not intended to kill Vanessa, whom he unwittingly ran her down as she tried to stop him from fleeing.
After dragging her body for 200 yards, he said he stopped his car and shot her in his panic to escape.
Somchai, who could be sentenced to death if convicted, eluded a massive manhunt for nearly a month, but surrendered to police on October 7.
He petitioned the court without success to have the charges against him downgraded to killing in self-defence and killing without intent - charges that do not carry the death penalty.
The trial was adjourned until February 4 and Somchai remains free on bail
His lawyer, Sukawee Sangpraew, had said the judge granted bail for health reasons - the defendant allegedly suffers from injuries he said were inflicted by Mr Lloyd - and so that he could help take care of his children.
Source: Scotsman.com
Posted Jan 16, 2005 at 02:34 PM | Permalink |
Comments
Eyewitness testimony from the Daily Record:
Maid Jan Pen Tee-Ra-In said she knew Somchai because their sons go to school together.
She added: 'I was on the second floor of my house when I heard two gunshots.
'I opened the windows to see a running girl being pursued by a car.
'I saw the car knock down the girl and drag her along the road underneath the car.
'I heard the girl screaming and saw her rolling over to a concrete pylon for support.
'The driver of the car was revving his engine very hard.
'Then I saw the car move towards the pole. Then I heard shots fired.
'The Volvo car drove off slowly at first. The driver was wearing a white sports shirt.'
Posted by Terrance Mann on January 16, 2005 02:46 PM
From the Telegraph:
"Thai police officer shot Britons after he took a bad beating"
Nonglak Rattanachart, 38, spoke vividly of the beating the police sergeant received. "I saw a foreign man, whom I now know as Adam, chase Somchai around his car beating and kicking him," she said.
"Somchai put his hands up to give in but the foreigner was very angry. Somchai ran back to his car and locked himself in.
"The foreigner then went up to the car and kicked it so hard his shoe came off. He then walked off. Somchai followed in his car and Adam threw something at it. It may have been his shoe."
Posted by Terrance Mann on January 16, 2005 02:51 PM
One country has its own laws and, we must all abide by them but, surley this man must be put behind bars. There are many stories that I've seen on these types of sites, all seem to agree that with any small amount of drugs you must take the consequences and do your very (as I understand it) hard time. Surley for killing people in what seems like cold blood you should not be allowed out on bail for any reason.
redrus
Posted by redrus on January 24, 2005 07:58 PM
Death is to good for this evil thai basterd. I have been coming here fore 20 years, and I say a good thai is a dead thai. Put this scum in a dungeon in chains for the rats to knor at him. But I know the system here. He will get a medal pinned to his uniform for bravery, as the thais put it, killing a low life foriegner,as a stinking thai will not loose face, and are always right, just like the chinks and the japs
Posted by trevorwhitworth on June 5, 2005 05:34 AM
Goodness me. If you hate Thais so much, why have you been coming here for twenty years? What's "knor" mean? The rats make soup powder out of you?
Posted by Rick Salasar on June 7, 2005 01:02 PM
to knor means to chew, I heard the Thais also poisoned chocolate bars at Tesco almost killing another Brit - did he survive I wonder
The only thing I can say is be careful of Tesco as there seem to be numerous incidents of terrorism where innocent people are easily poisoned
Posted by Walberg on June 19, 2005 01:14 AM
Who own Tesco........
Briton ....is it?
if u don't like Thai, don't come.
Posted by Jack on August 6, 2005 11:10 AM
knor does not mean to chew. you may be thinking of the word gnaw.
"I heard the Thais also poisoned chocolate bars" is exactly the kind of BS I have come to expect from farang in Thailand. I suppose every single person in Thailand queued up to supply their own personally-doctored attempt to kill farang in Thailand?
Been to a Tesco Lotus in Thailand lately? Full of farang, was it?
Would you care to supply some useful references for your claim about all the "terrorist" poisonings at Tesco?
Posted by Rick Salasar on August 8, 2005 07:17 PM