THAI prosecutors are expecting accused Phuket murderer Lee Aldhouse to appear in court for extradition proceedings in Britain later today.
But the Attorney General's Department in Bangkok expects as many delaying options as possible to be taken by Aldhouse's lawyers as they try to prevent his return to Phuket for trial for the stabbing murder of former American Marine, DaShawn Longfellow.
Intranee Sumawong, executive director of the AG Department's International Affairs Section, told Phuketwan today: ''He should be back in Thailand as soon as possible and we have clear evidence to support the case against him.
''But the British system allows defendants several avenues to put a case for resisting extradition. We have no problem with the British system. But we do have a strong case against Mr Aldhouse.''
Khun Intranee said that even the standard of incarceration in a Thai prison could become a consideration for the British court.
''Eventually there will be a decision. Our feeling is that Mr Aldhouse will have to face judgement in a Thai court, sooner or later.''
The hunt for Mr Longfellow's killer gripped expats on Phuket, where stories of Mr Aldhouse's intimidation and aggressive attitude quickly spread.
A person who looked a lot like Mr Aldhouse was captured a shop security camera, demanding knives in a 7-Eleven store on Phuket, shortly before Dashawn Longfellow was ambushed and stabbed to death at his nearby apartment.
The killing followed an altercation and a fistfight between Mr Aldhouse and Mr Longfellow at the Freedom Bar in the southern Phuket village of Raiwai, a short walk from the 7-Eleven, in the early hours of August 14 last year.
Both men had experience in Thai boxing ( muay Thai) but Mr Longfellow won the fight and Mr Aldhouse is said to have armed himself at the 7-Eleven to wreak revenge.
Khun Intranee said that although Mr Longfellow was a US citizen, the US authorities had had no input into the case for extradition.
One interesting aspect of the case has been raised by Chalong police, who made the preliminary investigation but failed to prevent Mr Aldhouse from escaping Thailand to Cambodia and thence onto a flight back to Heathrow airport in London, where he was apprehended.
In an earlier encounter with Chalong police, Mr Aldhouse had posed as an American.
Chalong police superintendent Colonel Vichid Intharasorn, who also has had wide experience in the Immigration department, said: ''If the Englishman is guilty of killing the American, then Thailand has to pay the cost of keeping him in jail for a long time, just because the murder took place here.
''That does not seem right. We would like to send him back to serve his sentence in his home country. But will his country want him back? We would like to hear them say that they are prepared to take this accused man back.''
The first step, though, will be to have Mr Aldhouse extradited to Thailand and Phuket to face trial for murder.
Mr Aldhouse is being held in London's Wandsworth Prison and is likely to appear today for the second time in Westminster Magistrates Court.
But the Attorney General's Department in Bangkok expects as many delaying options as possible to be taken by Aldhouse's lawyers as they try to prevent his return to Phuket for trial for the stabbing murder of former American Marine, DaShawn Longfellow.
Intranee Sumawong, executive director of the AG Department's International Affairs Section, told Phuketwan today: ''He should be back in Thailand as soon as possible and we have clear evidence to support the case against him.
''But the British system allows defendants several avenues to put a case for resisting extradition. We have no problem with the British system. But we do have a strong case against Mr Aldhouse.''
Khun Intranee said that even the standard of incarceration in a Thai prison could become a consideration for the British court.
''Eventually there will be a decision. Our feeling is that Mr Aldhouse will have to face judgement in a Thai court, sooner or later.''
The hunt for Mr Longfellow's killer gripped expats on Phuket, where stories of Mr Aldhouse's intimidation and aggressive attitude quickly spread.
A person who looked a lot like Mr Aldhouse was captured a shop security camera, demanding knives in a 7-Eleven store on Phuket, shortly before Dashawn Longfellow was ambushed and stabbed to death at his nearby apartment.
The killing followed an altercation and a fistfight between Mr Aldhouse and Mr Longfellow at the Freedom Bar in the southern Phuket village of Raiwai, a short walk from the 7-Eleven, in the early hours of August 14 last year.
Both men had experience in Thai boxing ( muay Thai) but Mr Longfellow won the fight and Mr Aldhouse is said to have armed himself at the 7-Eleven to wreak revenge.
Khun Intranee said that although Mr Longfellow was a US citizen, the US authorities had had no input into the case for extradition.
One interesting aspect of the case has been raised by Chalong police, who made the preliminary investigation but failed to prevent Mr Aldhouse from escaping Thailand to Cambodia and thence onto a flight back to Heathrow airport in London, where he was apprehended.
In an earlier encounter with Chalong police, Mr Aldhouse had posed as an American.
Chalong police superintendent Colonel Vichid Intharasorn, who also has had wide experience in the Immigration department, said: ''If the Englishman is guilty of killing the American, then Thailand has to pay the cost of keeping him in jail for a long time, just because the murder took place here.
''That does not seem right. We would like to send him back to serve his sentence in his home country. But will his country want him back? We would like to hear them say that they are prepared to take this accused man back.''
The first step, though, will be to have Mr Aldhouse extradited to Thailand and Phuket to face trial for murder.
Mr Aldhouse is being held in London's Wandsworth Prison and is likely to appear today for the second time in Westminster Magistrates Court.
Complete Reports on the Killing
CNN coverage with Phuketwan can be viewed at:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/08/17/thailand.kickboxing.killer/?hpt=T2#fbid=j8b3WNTelG3&wom=false
Phuketwan has posted dramatic footage of a man who looks like Lee Aldhouse obtaining two knives from a 7-Eleven store shortly before Mr Longfellow was stabbed to death. View the footage at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvuYakEINGg
Phuket Kickbox 'Killer' Caught at British Airport: Hunt on Phuket for Accomplices, 5 Million Baht Added to Bank Account
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Dear Superintendent Vichid,
Some mistake surely. Thailand will not be giving him a bed, medical care, dental care. Guards will be taking a cut off everything he receives including the floor space he occupies. His only gifts will be perhaps a dose of TB, serious dental erosion, and possibly, as in many cases, gangrene.
It seems a good deal for Thailand if he stays here. We look after our Thai prisoners, give them social visits, television, three cooked meals a day, the opportunity to take a degree, concerts, etc.
Posted by Andrew on March 1, 2011 17:02