PHUKET: The girlfriend of American Dashawn Longfellow talked yesterday for the first time about the night that the former US Marine was killed by British kickboxer Lee Aldhouse.
For Meena Saisong, who witness the aftermath of the attack and saw Aldhouse flee, it was a shocking event that she will never forget.
''I worked in the Freedom Bar at Rawai,'' she said. ''It was a big night, a Friday night.
''We all knew Lee and knew he was a difficult person. After drinking, he was often impolite and badly behaved. People avoided him if they could.''
It was Friday, the 13th of August, 2010. People were still drinking into the early hours of Saturday morning. Longfellow, 23, a former Marine wounded in Afghanistan, had been recuperating on Phuket.
''Dashawn was at the Freedom Bar and he wanted to go to the toilet, but Lee's table was in the way,'' Khun Meena said yesterday.
''Dashawn asked Lee to move, but he didn't. Instead, he punched Dashawn in the nose. It happened very fast.
''I took Dashawn around the bar to the serving side to protect him. But Lee jumped the counter, scattering bottles and glasses, and it took several staff to pull him off.''
Khun Meena said that she and Dashawn rode on his motorcycle back to his apartment, south from Rawai and the Freedom Bar. They had been dating for two weeks and planned to rent the apartment for a year.
Unbeknown to the couple, Aldhouse had run barefoot to a 7-Eleven store near the Freedom Bar and picked up a knife before he too rode off.
''Dashawn left the apartment to buy some water,'' Khun Meena said. ''When he came back, he came through the sliding door and Lee attacked him from behind.
''Dashawn called out to me 'Stay in the bedroom! Stay in the bedroom!' When I came out, Dashawn was on the floor. I was looking at Lee. He turned and fled.''
Khun Meena would have been required to give evidence at Phuket Provincial Court yesterday if Aldhouse, 28 at the time of the killing, had not changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.
Aldhouse's former girlfriend, Khun ''Far,'' was also in the courtroom and could still be required to give evidence. The two women met and embraced briefly.
Khun Far, at one stage reportedly needing hospital treatment because of injuries inflicted by Aldhouse, fled Thailand with him.
Aldhouse went from Cambodia to Singapore where he boarded a flight to London's Heathrow airport. At the airport, he was held on an old British weapons charge.
Because of its unusual nature, the case kindled mixed feelings among law enforcement officials in Thailand.
At least one senior policeman on Phuket expressed the view that as the perpetrator was British and the victim was American, it would not be fair for Thailand to foot the bill for a term of imprisonment.
Justice authorities in Bangkok thought differently and pursued Aldhouse assiduously through the British courts, eventually winning a ruling in favor of extradition.
The treaty between Britain and Thailand had been in place for more than 100 years, but Aldhouse's flight to Bangkok and Phuket in December was the first extradition.
Authorities, it was said, were even prepared to provide a Western-style cell if necessary to accommodate Aldhouse, who fought as a kickboxer on Phuket under the name ''the Pitbull.''
In Phuket Prison, a cell to house less that 30 prisoners was created to provide Aldhouse with better conditions that for most prisoners in the larger dormitories.
Aldhouse used his ''Very Important Prisoner'' status to ask for Western food and other favors, most of which could not be granted.
The precise terms of the deal between British and Thai officials for Aldhouse's return have never been revealed. It's almost certain that Thai officials would have undertaken to rule out capital punishment.
Since that night, Khun Meena has found a new man and given birth to her first child.
Lee Aldhouse is due to reappear in court on Monday for a final round of presecution evidence. The judge is expected to reserve the verdict.
Aldhouse has been told that the two years he spent in British cells awaiting an extradition and his eight months so far in Phuket Prison awaiting trial will be deducted from his sentence.
Dashawn Longfellow's brother Marquis has added the following to a Facebook tribute site: ''Thank everyone in Thailand for the overwhelming support that we have gotten. I want Lee to spend everyday of his life remembering who he took from us. Maybe our family finally get a little piece of mind knowing that Lee will get what he deserves. I love you Dashawn. And MAY JUSTICE BE SERVED''
For Meena Saisong, who witness the aftermath of the attack and saw Aldhouse flee, it was a shocking event that she will never forget.
''I worked in the Freedom Bar at Rawai,'' she said. ''It was a big night, a Friday night.
''We all knew Lee and knew he was a difficult person. After drinking, he was often impolite and badly behaved. People avoided him if they could.''
It was Friday, the 13th of August, 2010. People were still drinking into the early hours of Saturday morning. Longfellow, 23, a former Marine wounded in Afghanistan, had been recuperating on Phuket.
''Dashawn was at the Freedom Bar and he wanted to go to the toilet, but Lee's table was in the way,'' Khun Meena said yesterday.
''Dashawn asked Lee to move, but he didn't. Instead, he punched Dashawn in the nose. It happened very fast.
''I took Dashawn around the bar to the serving side to protect him. But Lee jumped the counter, scattering bottles and glasses, and it took several staff to pull him off.''
Khun Meena said that she and Dashawn rode on his motorcycle back to his apartment, south from Rawai and the Freedom Bar. They had been dating for two weeks and planned to rent the apartment for a year.
Unbeknown to the couple, Aldhouse had run barefoot to a 7-Eleven store near the Freedom Bar and picked up a knife before he too rode off.
''Dashawn left the apartment to buy some water,'' Khun Meena said. ''When he came back, he came through the sliding door and Lee attacked him from behind.
''Dashawn called out to me 'Stay in the bedroom! Stay in the bedroom!' When I came out, Dashawn was on the floor. I was looking at Lee. He turned and fled.''
Khun Meena would have been required to give evidence at Phuket Provincial Court yesterday if Aldhouse, 28 at the time of the killing, had not changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.
Aldhouse's former girlfriend, Khun ''Far,'' was also in the courtroom and could still be required to give evidence. The two women met and embraced briefly.
Khun Far, at one stage reportedly needing hospital treatment because of injuries inflicted by Aldhouse, fled Thailand with him.
Aldhouse went from Cambodia to Singapore where he boarded a flight to London's Heathrow airport. At the airport, he was held on an old British weapons charge.
Because of its unusual nature, the case kindled mixed feelings among law enforcement officials in Thailand.
At least one senior policeman on Phuket expressed the view that as the perpetrator was British and the victim was American, it would not be fair for Thailand to foot the bill for a term of imprisonment.
Justice authorities in Bangkok thought differently and pursued Aldhouse assiduously through the British courts, eventually winning a ruling in favor of extradition.
The treaty between Britain and Thailand had been in place for more than 100 years, but Aldhouse's flight to Bangkok and Phuket in December was the first extradition.
Authorities, it was said, were even prepared to provide a Western-style cell if necessary to accommodate Aldhouse, who fought as a kickboxer on Phuket under the name ''the Pitbull.''
In Phuket Prison, a cell to house less that 30 prisoners was created to provide Aldhouse with better conditions that for most prisoners in the larger dormitories.
Aldhouse used his ''Very Important Prisoner'' status to ask for Western food and other favors, most of which could not be granted.
The precise terms of the deal between British and Thai officials for Aldhouse's return have never been revealed. It's almost certain that Thai officials would have undertaken to rule out capital punishment.
Since that night, Khun Meena has found a new man and given birth to her first child.
Lee Aldhouse is due to reappear in court on Monday for a final round of presecution evidence. The judge is expected to reserve the verdict.
Aldhouse has been told that the two years he spent in British cells awaiting an extradition and his eight months so far in Phuket Prison awaiting trial will be deducted from his sentence.
Dashawn Longfellow's brother Marquis has added the following to a Facebook tribute site: ''Thank everyone in Thailand for the overwhelming support that we have gotten. I want Lee to spend everyday of his life remembering who he took from us. Maybe our family finally get a little piece of mind knowing that Lee will get what he deserves. I love you Dashawn. And MAY JUSTICE BE SERVED''
ED. Does the annual 1 year tournament fights for freedom still happen to get a pardon? seeing this guy is a professional at it what's the chances of him getting out before his time is up?
Posted by typical loyalty on August 29, 2013 08:39
Editor Comment:
That's a Hollywood myth as far as Phuket prison goes.