PHUKET, June 26 — Two suspects alleged to have murdered an Australian woman travel agent in an attempted robbery last week today were escorted by police to re-enact their fatal assault the victim and seriously wounded her travelling companion on this southern resort island.
The two suspects, Surasak Suwannachote, 26, and Surin Thatthong, 37, were taken to the crime scene on Kata Noi Road in Phuket’s provincial seat to re-enact and demonstrate how they attempted to rob and stabbed Australian national Michelle Elizabeth Smith, 60, and severely wounded her companion, Tammee Lee Lynn, 42, on June 20.
National police chief Priewpan Damapong and local police officers witnessed the re-enactment, which was carried out for half an hour amid a crowd of dissatisfied and angry local residents and tourists.
Deputy national police chief Pansiri Prapawat announced that the police on June 23 had placed a bounty on the men for Bt300,000 (US$10,000) and then received clues which led to the arrest of the two men yesterday.
Mr Surasak, the alleged killer, was captured on Monday in Chumphon’s Tha Sae district, while Mr Surin, believed to be the motorcycle driver, was apprehended on Sunday in Ban Phaeo district of Bangkok’s neighbouring province of Samut Sakhon, Pol Gen Pansiri said.
The suspects admitted all the criminal charges that were leveled against them.
According to the criminal record, Mr Surin had earlier been charged with committing four criminal offences while Mr Surasak had been charged with one drug offence.
