PHUKET: A British couple attacked by a gang at a Krabi holiday destination are flying home today after spending yesterday in court.
Jack Cole, 21, who was stabbed half a dozen times, and his girlfriend April Clifton, who suffered bruises and may have been the target of the attackers, gave sworn evidence twice.
In the morning, they went to the Childrens Court in Krabi to hear the case against a 17-year-old who has confessed to wielding the knife. As a minor, Thai law prevents the media from naming him.
In the afternoon, the couple attended Krabi Provincial Court, where Anusorn Kunluk, 18, also faced a count of assault with a deadly weapon causing bodily harm.
Mr Cole and Miss Clifton, also 21, say that they were walking back to a pier after dinner in Ao Nang on October 22 to catch a boat to their resort when they were ambushed by a gang.
They say there was no reason for the attack in which Mr Cole suffered a cut to the head that later required 30 stitches and a series of stab wounds to his right shoulder and chest, one deep enough to cut tendons.
He will have his arm in a sling for six weeks and require rehabilitation stretching over months.
The attackers - two of a gang of seven - claim Mr Cole made a gesture that they misinterpreted. According to them, the savage knifing was the result of ''a misunderstanding.''
There was no explanation why a 17-year-old would be carring a knife.
Mr Cole and Ms Clifton, on their dream holiday, undertook to give sworn evidence so the case against their attackers can be pursued by prosecutors in their absence.
Mr Cole, a recruitment officer with Office Angel in Bath, told Phuketwan: ''I wouldn't like this to happen to anyone else. If I can help to prevent that, I would be prepared to stay for an extra few days.''
Police are not looking for the other members of the gang.
At least two rapes of women from Europe and the US have been reported in Krabi this year. A young German woman had her thumb hacked off by attackers in Krabi Town.
Krabi police investigated the mysterious deaths of Canadian sister Audrey and Noemi Belanger on Phi Phi, a holiday island off krabi, in June, but were unable to determine the cause.
Jack Cole, 21, who was stabbed half a dozen times, and his girlfriend April Clifton, who suffered bruises and may have been the target of the attackers, gave sworn evidence twice.
In the morning, they went to the Childrens Court in Krabi to hear the case against a 17-year-old who has confessed to wielding the knife. As a minor, Thai law prevents the media from naming him.
In the afternoon, the couple attended Krabi Provincial Court, where Anusorn Kunluk, 18, also faced a count of assault with a deadly weapon causing bodily harm.
Mr Cole and Miss Clifton, also 21, say that they were walking back to a pier after dinner in Ao Nang on October 22 to catch a boat to their resort when they were ambushed by a gang.
They say there was no reason for the attack in which Mr Cole suffered a cut to the head that later required 30 stitches and a series of stab wounds to his right shoulder and chest, one deep enough to cut tendons.
He will have his arm in a sling for six weeks and require rehabilitation stretching over months.
The attackers - two of a gang of seven - claim Mr Cole made a gesture that they misinterpreted. According to them, the savage knifing was the result of ''a misunderstanding.''
There was no explanation why a 17-year-old would be carring a knife.
Mr Cole and Ms Clifton, on their dream holiday, undertook to give sworn evidence so the case against their attackers can be pursued by prosecutors in their absence.
Mr Cole, a recruitment officer with Office Angel in Bath, told Phuketwan: ''I wouldn't like this to happen to anyone else. If I can help to prevent that, I would be prepared to stay for an extra few days.''
Police are not looking for the other members of the gang.
At least two rapes of women from Europe and the US have been reported in Krabi this year. A young German woman had her thumb hacked off by attackers in Krabi Town.
Krabi police investigated the mysterious deaths of Canadian sister Audrey and Noemi Belanger on Phi Phi, a holiday island off krabi, in June, but were unable to determine the cause.
Quote "There was no explanation why a 17-year-old would be carring a knife."
Why would anyone be carrying a knife, no matter how old they are?
We aren't talking about a pocket pen knife here on any of them.
Posted by Tbs on October 31, 2012 20:06