Thai men get life sentence for Australian tourist murder
- 12 years ago
Two Thai men were sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for the murder of Australian tourist Michelle Smith.
Sixty-year-old Smith, an Australian travel agent, was stabbed to death by the men after they tried to snatch her bag on Kata Noi beach on the island of Phuket on June 20.
The prosecutor said their sentences were reduced because they pleaded guilty and cooperated during the court proceedings.
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) PROSECUTOR WIWAT KITJALUK, SAYING:
"The court has given the verdict according to what we pressed charges for. They would have received the toughest sentence, which is the death penalty. But the two pleaded guilty, so the court reduced the sentence to life imprisonment."
The pair were convicted on all charges, including attempted robbery at night using a vehicle, pre-meditated murder and possession of weapons in public.
They were arrested six days after the murder while trying to make an escape.
Phuket is a popular resort island around 530 miles south of Bangkok.
Sixty-year-old Smith, an Australian travel agent, was stabbed to death by the men after they tried to snatch her bag on Kata Noi beach on the island of Phuket on June 20.
The prosecutor said their sentences were reduced because they pleaded guilty and cooperated during the court proceedings.
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) PROSECUTOR WIWAT KITJALUK, SAYING:
"The court has given the verdict according to what we pressed charges for. They would have received the toughest sentence, which is the death penalty. But the two pleaded guilty, so the court reduced the sentence to life imprisonment."
The pair were convicted on all charges, including attempted robbery at night using a vehicle, pre-meditated murder and possession of weapons in public.
They were arrested six days after the murder while trying to make an escape.
Phuket is a popular resort island around 530 miles south of Bangkok.