From ANDREW DRUMMOND,
Bangkok, August 11 2011
BBC Wales
Thai police investigating the murder of Kirsty Jones will have to seek a warrant to forcefully carry out a DNA test on a Chiang Mai University professor after the academic refused to supply a sample voluntarily.
Police sources here confirmed yesterday that the request made by Dyfed-Powys Police in Britain had been rebuffed by the professor after he was approached by Thailand’s Department of Special investigating of the murder and rape of Kirsty, 24, in Chiang Mai in August 2000.
They stressed that this could not be in any way considered an admission of guilt. The sample was required to rule the professor out of the enquiry. The professor had strongly denied having anything to do with Kirsty. To secure DNA sample they would now have to go through legal channels.
It is understood the DSI are fearful they may be sued if they take any shortcuts, as the professor is a respected member of the community.
Nevertheless the refusal is another set -back for the investigation into the murder and rape of Kirsty Jones which happened 11 years ago this month in Chiang Mai in £3 a night lodgings then known as the Aree Guest House.
It is also distressing to Kirsty Jones’ family, from Tredomen, Brecon, who were hoping the matter would be dealt with quickly.
Police in Chiang Mai, the Thai northern capital, were heavily criticised at the time for their bungling of the case. At the time they did not appear to be so concerned about short cuts. They arrested the British guest house owner Andrew Gill, 32, but released him after his DNA did not match the killer’s, who must have been of Asian extraction.
A tourist guide from the Karen hill-tribe, whose tour Kirsty had joined, announced at a police press conference that he was kidnapped by plain-clothed police, taken to a house, and beaten in an attempt to get a confession.
Narong Pojanathanrongpong (right) said police even tried to masturbate him,to obtain a sperm sample which he feared they might introduce to the crime scene.
They were unsuccessful and took him out and dumped him by the side of a road out of town, he claimed.
The Chiang Mai Guides Association turned up at Chiang Mai Provincial Police headquarters in force to protest.
The Chiang Mai University professor has been named as a suspect by an elderly Australian national, who said he had to flee Thailand after confronting the professor.
It is alleged that the professor was seen with a Thai tourist policeman hanging around outside the Aree Guest House shortly before she was murdered.
The tourist policeman was a friend of the Australian, who claimed that the professor came to visit him after he told the policeman that he was a suspect together with another person. The professor invited him to a party but he was scared to go. The professor was angry at his refusal and assaulted him, he said.
The policeman in question was later filmed by a British production crew for the series ‘Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand’ broadcast on Sky and the Bravo Channel.
He never made the programme in question as the producers felt his behaviour was not in line with the positive image that they wished to present of Thai police. His DNA has been checked and does not match that of the killer.
Media gather outside the Chiang Mai Guide Association after the arrest of Narong
Clearly they are beginning to try to do what they should have done ELEVEN years ago.
Two points on recent developments:
If I was innocent I would want the DNA test to lift the cloud of suspicion.
Who collected and tested the DNA from the tourist policeman? If it was the Thai police who collected the sample it's simply not an answer because of their truly incredible history. Did the Welsh police collect the sample directly?
A certain policeman wasn't entirely left on the cutting room floor of Big Trouble In Thailand. He has a bit-part in one of the episodes – he's there alright if you know where to look. The series is now airing in Australia, and doing well in the ratings by all accounts. Time for the sequel?
the welsh police don't have that many powers in working overseas and thailand must have been frustrating
all credit to them and andrew though in this terrier like attitude of keeping this travesty of justice alive
is the cm professor asian?
No the Welsh police did not collect the sample. Police here did. But so did I. The sample I took was analysed in Chiang Mai by Dr.Thanin. I did not tell the doctor where who the sample was taken from – But he was able to tell me. It did not match the profile of the killer. However a post from the director of 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand' was slightly worrying. See the last story for that
Newbie: I don't think I am narrowing down the field too much by saying he is Thai.
Just assuming a policeman was involved in some manner – a humble, low-ranking Thai tourist plod … considering the Thai class system, the cultural way in which Thais from differing backgrounds relate to one another, what would the policeman's relationship have been to the professor? Accomplices/equal partners (in crime), buddies? On level pegging? Who is the older of the two, who has more societal clout? Who might have been useful to who, and how exactly? All the clues are there.
Good on you Andrew Drummond for your effort reporting the Kirsty Jones story and keeping it in the spotlight. It is such an injustice that this young girl's life ended so early and tragically.
I was however, dissapointed by the degenerate description of Andy Gill in the Bangkok post, given by other expats who knew him. At a time when Andy's life was on the line, so called freinds were character assasinating him.
He was described as a no-hoper,drunk and degenerate. I know the people who commented on Andy's character and drunk and degenerate describes most of them.
For the record, Andy Gill was a good bloke, he drank a lot like most expats in Thailand, but he had a good heart.
Hope you get to see this Andy.
Your mate Maurice Webber.
I sincerely hope the kirsty jones family get justice for their daughter, to give them some peace of mind. As far as DNA evidence goes, I wouldn,t trust anyone in australia with my DNA, it would be out of the question in Thailand. Gidday to everyone in chiangmai and the hash house harriers, will be back for a visit one day.
Maurice Webber
I second that, Maurice
It's a strange fact of life in Thailand that expats jump in quickly sometimes and become Thai apologists if they see an opportunity to knock a farang
I observ itb as you have but don't understand it. Andrew may have a better handle on the phenomena
It,s very interesting to hear there is another suspect in the murder of Kirsty Jones. Kirsty was in my restaurant (True Blue bar and restaurant 47 moonmuang rd), the night of her murder. It was a very sad moment for westerners living in Chiangmai. Andy Gill was a long term freind, it was inconceivable he was the murderer. Thai police overlooked countless statements from thai's and farangs claiming Andy was at a bar at the time of the murder and DNA evidence proving Andy's sperm didn't match the sperm found at the scene. The Thai police were protecting someone, expats at the time thought it was a thai tourist policeman who was at Aree's guesthouse that night.
The Welsh police were fantastic in their investigations. I sincerely hope the Jones family get some justice this time around.
Maurice Webber
For Maurice Webber
Can you tell me for sure that Andy gill was NOT at the Aree that night. This is crucial to what the professor said in his witness statement which said that Andy went into her room and then he heard the screams.