PHUKET: The first anniversary of one of Phuket's most notorious expat killings has passed without word on whether a British kickboxer will be extradited from Britain to Thailand to face trial for murder.
Murder suspect Lee Aldhouse and the family of the American he allegedly killed on Phuket, ex-Marine Dashawn Longfellow, anxiously await a decision by British Home Secretary, Theresa May.
It was before dawn on August 14 a year ago that Mr Longfellow was ambushed and stabbed to death. The 23-year-old American, challenged to a fight at a southern Phuket bar by Mr Aldhouse, 29, won the brawl but soon after lost his life.
Rumor spread at the weekend on a Dashawn Longfellow tribute Facebook site that US embassy officials had told his family that Britain's Home Secretary had approved extradition.
Phuketwan was unable to confirm that information from sources in Thailand.
A decision is expected before August 30. If the Home Secretary approves the extradition, Mr Aldhouse is expected to appeal the decision.
In that event - and assuming Thai authorities win the appeal - Mr Aldhouse is unlikely to be seen on Phuket before the second anniversary of the killing.
Thai authorities are believed to have presented a compelling case for Mr Aldhouse to be returned to face trial for murder over the Phuket killing.
But it's also believed there has been lengthy dialogue about the conditions in a Thai jail that Mr Aldhouse would be forced to endure, particularly as an innocent man before trial.
The case is believed to be precedent-setting. Nobody in legal or diplomatic circles that Phuketwan has spoken to about the case can recall a previous bid for extradition from Britain to Thailand for murder.
Mr Aldhouse has been held since his arrest at London's Heathrow Airport after he fled Phuket and caught a flight back to Britain from Singapore as a manhunt continued for him.
One theoretical question is what could happen if Mr Aldhouse appealed against extradition, and won that appeal. What would US authorities do?
The involvement of the US embassy in London on behalf of Mr Longfellow's family indicates an obvious and probably strong desire to see justice done.
If the request to have Mr Aldhouse extradited to Thailand was lost on appeal, would the US Government then seek Mr Aldhouse's extradition to the US to face trial for a murder he allegedly committed on Phuket?
As a war veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart in the service of his country, the former Marine is not likely to be forgotten, even if the extradition process drags on.
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
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
Phuket Expat Killing Raises More Questions About Crowded JailMurder suspect Lee Aldhouse and the family of the American he allegedly killed on Phuket, ex-Marine Dashawn Longfellow, anxiously await a decision by British Home Secretary, Theresa May.
It was before dawn on August 14 a year ago that Mr Longfellow was ambushed and stabbed to death. The 23-year-old American, challenged to a fight at a southern Phuket bar by Mr Aldhouse, 29, won the brawl but soon after lost his life.
Rumor spread at the weekend on a Dashawn Longfellow tribute Facebook site that US embassy officials had told his family that Britain's Home Secretary had approved extradition.
Phuketwan was unable to confirm that information from sources in Thailand.
A decision is expected before August 30. If the Home Secretary approves the extradition, Mr Aldhouse is expected to appeal the decision.
In that event - and assuming Thai authorities win the appeal - Mr Aldhouse is unlikely to be seen on Phuket before the second anniversary of the killing.
Thai authorities are believed to have presented a compelling case for Mr Aldhouse to be returned to face trial for murder over the Phuket killing.
But it's also believed there has been lengthy dialogue about the conditions in a Thai jail that Mr Aldhouse would be forced to endure, particularly as an innocent man before trial.
The case is believed to be precedent-setting. Nobody in legal or diplomatic circles that Phuketwan has spoken to about the case can recall a previous bid for extradition from Britain to Thailand for murder.
Mr Aldhouse has been held since his arrest at London's Heathrow Airport after he fled Phuket and caught a flight back to Britain from Singapore as a manhunt continued for him.
One theoretical question is what could happen if Mr Aldhouse appealed against extradition, and won that appeal. What would US authorities do?
The involvement of the US embassy in London on behalf of Mr Longfellow's family indicates an obvious and probably strong desire to see justice done.
If the request to have Mr Aldhouse extradited to Thailand was lost on appeal, would the US Government then seek Mr Aldhouse's extradition to the US to face trial for a murder he allegedly committed on Phuket?
As a war veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart in the service of his country, the former Marine is not likely to be forgotten, even if the extradition process drags on.
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
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
News Analysis With the first anniversary of the brutal knife murder of an American visitor just weeks away, questions are being asked his alleged killer and Phuket's crowded jail.
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How a War Hero Died in Phuket's Kickbox Killing: Stalker Struck in the Dark
Phuket Manhunt for Kickbox Killer 'Mr Lee' Widens
Updated Report The Phuket police hunt for the Englishman known as ''Mr Lee'' who allegedly knifed an American to death continued today amid confused reports about his identity.
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Concerns about "conditions in a Thai jail that Mr Aldhouse would be forced to endure" ??? What a disgusting neo-colonialist British concern. Furthermore, I've got the understanding that if that guy had killed a Thai, or anybody else but a US veteran, he would have been safe at home.
Posted by pmoo on August 15, 2011 15:03