Thailand News - Swedish woman found dead on Mai Khao beach

TV Channel 11 · #1 15-03-2008, 21:22

Sad to report that this afternoon a Swedish woman aged 27 was found dead presemed by police to be murdered, at Mai Khao, near beach bungalows. Her body with cuts in a swimming costume was taken to Thalang Hospital. Swedish Consulate said this afternoon that the next of kin had yet to be informed.
We will have more details and video at hospital on Monday's Andaman News program, 8.30am & ÊÓ¹Ñ¡¢èÒÇ ¡ÃÁ»ÃÐªÒÊÑÁ¾Ñ¹¸ì......ThaisNews »ÃÐ¨ÓÇÑ¹ÈØ¡Ãì·Õè 14 ÁÕ¹Ò¤Á 2551

landofsmiles · #2 15-03-2008, 21:37

:-( not a good time for young Swedes lately. Two in their 20's were killed when their jeep hit a tree outside Le Meridien a couple of weeks ago.

repeter · #3 16-03-2008, 00:25

Swedish only

Aftonbladet: Svensk kvinna mördad i Phuket (Nyheter)

Nicke · #4 16-03-2008, 04:48

Big headlines in Sweden now... I just wonder what really happened.

MrDK · #5 16-03-2008, 06:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by repeter

Swedish only

Aftonbladet: Svensk kvinna mördad i Phuket (Nyheter)

Pretty grim story..... clearly fighting for her life .... and multiple knife stabbings to her throat.

Nautilus · #6 16-03-2008, 07:13

That's really cold !!!

midnightsun1 · #7 16-03-2008, 15:14

Let me guess... Police will find these low lifes. They will admit to it. Then released on bail.

When will the thais stand up for themselves and stop condoning this and the other criminal assualts on this island. Not just crimes on foriegners but the thai people as well.

Very sad.

DREW · #8 16-03-2008, 23:40

No progress in Hanna murder investigation

MAI KHAO: The body of Hanna Charlotta Backlund, 27, who was found murdered on Mai Khao Beach yesterday morning, has been flown to Bangkok for forensic tests, Col Sakchai Limcharoen, Superintendent of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, told the Gazette this afternoon.

“There is no news to report at this time, but police are working quickly to solve this case. We have questioned many people, but no-one has reported being a witness to the crime, including her girl friend,” he said.

Hanna Charlotta was staying at Mai Khao Beach Bungalow resort with Emma Storman, who found Hanna’s body about 300 meters from the resort.

Tah Chat Chai Police Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Payongsak Petchrod told the Gazette, “The place where the body was found is hard to see and very quiet. There is a mound there and behind that is thick with trees. There are no restaurants near there, and no people.”

Emma told police that she did not see anyone in the area around the time of the murder, Lt Col Payongsak said. “Emma left the resort to buy some water and she told Hanna that she will join her sunbathing later. About 30 minutes later, she returned to find Hanna dead,” he said.

“Hanna was very beautiful and she was sunbathing topless. Emma said that they normally sunbathed topless if there were no people around,” he added.

“There were many stab wounds on her neck, one on her back, one near her navel and both of her hands had been cut by something sharp. It’s possible those wounds came from her fighting her attacker,” Lt Col Payongsak said.

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Nicke · #9 17-03-2008, 04:52

Swedish papers said they rented a tent on the beach and did not stay in a Bungalow, so the resort obviously offer tents to those who want that accomodation on the beach.

Its bad, as it happened in daytime and not in the night time. Daytime hours should be safe. The beach is however long and quiet, not many people around there.

I would guess its more safe to stay at a more busy/populated area.

dawsey · #10 17-03-2008, 04:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

Swedish papers said they rented a tent on the beach and did not stay in a Bungalow, so the resort obviously offer tents to those who want that accomodation on the beach.

Its bad, as it happened in daytime and not in the night time. Daytime hours should be safe. The beach is however long and quiet, not many people around there.

I would guess its more safe to stay at a more busy/populated area.

Very bad news. I guess the sight of an attractive young topless farang girl was too much for somebody. As Nicke says, far less chance of that happening at a more popular beach.

Jack23 · #11 17-03-2008, 05:46

Very sad story, I hope some one is brought to justice over this. Why are some Thai’s (assuming a thai did this) so fecking dumb and stupid and really don’t give a shyt for another human being. It's disgusting!

LivinLOS · #12 17-03-2008, 09:00

I feel sad for the woman of course..

But if they cannot see the inherent risks in camping in a tent in a remote isolated area, of a 3rd world country, and running around half naked where every guide book would tell you its not sane.. Well Dawinism at work !!

Western feminism that women have the power to control thier lives, well simply doesnt hold up everywhere. Right or wrong its a fact.

TV Channel 11 · #13 17-03-2008, 10:03

MiniVDO: Police are searching for killers after a Swedish woman was found murdered at Mai Khao Beach on Saturday.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216494

Phuket police are still working on the investigation and searching for murderers after a 27 year old Swedish tourist, originally named by police as Hanna Charlotta, was found murdered at Mai Khao Beach, at the northern end of Phuket on Saturday. The body, dressed in a one-piece swimsuit, was found with stab wounds on her throat, 700 meters from Mai Khao Beach Bungalows, where she was staying with her girl friend since March 6th. Her body was taken to Thalang Hospital for autopsy. Pol. Col. Sakchai Lim Charoen, Superintendent of Tah Chatchai Police Station, believed that the victim died while fighting against an attempted rape.
Yesterday the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Police region 8 Pol. Major General Thavat Bunfueng visited and called a meeting with Phuket police and ordered a speed up of the investigation and searching as the case severely damages the resort island’s tourism image, while the Minister of Tourism & Sports flew down from Bangkok last night to follow up the case. The bad news has also drawn the attention of Swedish media.

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) at 8.30am & local Cable TV channel 1 + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Monday 17th March 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th

Sparkle · #14 17-03-2008, 11:22

very sad news, a murder on a beach, in daylight, close to a resort is a bold attack.....and a blow for the image of phuket.....esp as so many of the brochures and promos of phuket show pictures of or advise to get yourself away from the crowds to a secluded area of beach for a slice of tropical paradise....a walk, a picnic or private swim.

Dodger · #15 17-03-2008, 12:29

Sparkle, you ever been to Mai Khao beach??

'close to resort' - 'get yourself away from the crowds to a secluded area of beach' got all options covered there then!!

I cannot make a comment on the incident, as I wasn't there and there is way too much information missing. Assuming it was a Thai, whilst percentages are in your favour are at present not known. No background on her, how long here, why in tent, thai boyfriend or just backpacking, how long in MK etc etc but I suppose the board will make assumptions and then give a load of uninformed opinions, is it called 'gossipmongering' ?????

My only comment at present, is that these incidencies are happening far too frequently at the moment, is it they are being reported more openly now or is crime, murder and theft really increasing at this rate??

Sparkle · #16 17-03-2008, 12:40

no have not been along it just near it....just went from report saying between 300-700m from resort....so yes an assumption that its somewhat close to where people might be staying.......and re the brochures was more commenting on the pics we get of thailand and phuket in particualr in OZ....the ones with a single person...usually a woman in a sarong and bikini wandering along a piece of beach with no-one else is sight......if thats 100m from a resort or 5km it seems to be promoted as something to 'find' while here.....not really promoting the dangers of being by yourself somewhere in a place like thailand......

but yes few details on the circumstances

LivinLOS · #17 17-03-2008, 12:58

Of course no one knows anything for sure.. Tho some reports have claimed there were 4 thai males seen drinking in the area of the trees approx where her body was found.. I also read the police were looking for 4 males.

Wouldnt surprise me if they round up and have ultra rapid confessions from any local Burmese tho.. That seems all too common.

bangladiver · #18 17-03-2008, 13:18

even if right by the bungalows it is very very quiet there - mk beach bungalows has 4 bungalows and 2 tents (the family that run it have a single house nearby), the one bugalows say 300m north has about the same - apart from that there is nothing there for a very large distance all around (the nearest road which is deserted is at 1km away)

last time there saw maybe 8 people the entire time i was there

they have just started piling foundations for a hotel or something immediately south on next plot

midnightsun1 · #19 17-03-2008, 15:28

Phuket - Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat visited Phuket late Sunday night to ask police to speed up probe into the murder of a tourist on a popular beach of this island province.

Just as all the other BMs and readers here. We all want the person/persons caught and held responsible. It does scare me when u read this in the paper. I personally not to impress with police work and ethics in Phuket. Lets make sure they get the right person/persons. Not the first one with a knife and putting their balls in a vice to get a confession. Then a 1hr court case and quick execution to save FACE.

Dodger my own opinion yes violence is increasing dramatically here but also with the internet its being exposed more. Really don't think much will be done. Until the local Thais finally have had enough of it then maybe things will change.
A police force filled with corrution, bribes, and no morals it will always be the same. To many rotten eggs overtake the few that want to take their police job seriously.
You get more action out of the police when someone does not pay to keep their bar open past closing time or an election day. Then on any serious assaults and attacks.

Minder · #20 17-03-2008, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

I feel sad for the woman of course..

But if they cannot see the inherent risks in camping in a tent in a remote isolated area, of a 3rd world country, and running around half naked where every guide book would tell you its not sane.. Well Dawinism at work !!

Western feminism that women have the power to control thier lives, well simply doesnt hold up everywhere. Right or wrong its a fact.

__________________________________________________ ______________

I tend to agree with LivinLOS.
Exercising her "right" to sunbathe topless appears to have been her undoing - my gossip mongering contribution is to wonder why if she was attacked by "4 local men seen in the area" they didn't get what they wanted and instead had to slash and stab her with knife - that looks like the work of a single assailant to me.
It all seems so unnecessary. I have a daughter the same age, I can imagine the feelings of her family. The human race would end overnight if all our kids died when they did something dumb.

Dodger · #21 17-03-2008, 20:10

But was she sunbathing topless? it said in the reply from her friend that she was wearing a one piece swimming costume. Agree in a bikini yes, a girl goes topless, but a one piece suit? and also her friend said she was only gone for 30 minutes for some water, before she went looking for her, so hardly time to get a quick sunbathing session in??

Stabbed possibly because she resisted someones advances or request for money etc, only needs one of the guys with a knife??, but that was my point earlier, and no it wasn't a dig at Sparkle, with so little info anything we discuss is just so speculative.

landofsmiles · #22 17-03-2008, 20:19

You seem unaware of the workings of a 1-piece bathing suit Dodger. It's possible to slip the straps over ones' shoulders and pull the top half of the suit down over ones' body thereby exposing the top half of ones' body and therefor being topless.

Dodger · #23 17-03-2008, 20:23

Okay I bow to your greater personal knowledge Rex!!!!!

LivinLOS · #24 17-03-2008, 20:34

Police close in on Hanna murder prime suspect

MAI KHAO: Police investigating the murder of Swedish tourist Hanna Charlotta Backlund, 27, whose body was found at Mai Khao Beach on Saturday morning, are waiting to speak to a key person before moving to arrest their prime suspect for the murder, Phuket Police Deputy Commander Col Paween Pongsirin told the Gazette today.

“We have received important information from villagers in the area. I can’t say anything more to the media at this moment,” he said.

Col Paween confirmed that yesterday police interviewed three men in connection with the murder. No arrests were made.

However, Col Paween did not confirm reports that the wounds inflicted on Hanna were made by a knife similar to those used by local fishermen.

Hanna had been staying at the Mai Khao Beach Resort with friend Emma Storman, who found Hanna''s body 300 meters from resort. According to police, Hanna died from stab wounds to her neck and body.

Officers from the Crime Suppression Division from Bangkok arrived in Phuket this morning to assist with the investigation, which included questioning local residents.

“We have limited evidence from the murder scene because of the proximity to the sea. We are awaiting the results of DNA tests from Hanna’s body,” Tah Chat Chai Police Superintendent Pol Col Sakchai Limcharoen said.

A 100,000-baht reward is being offered by local businesses for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to finding those responsible for Hanna’s death.

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat arrived in Phuket today to visit the murder scene and meet with Emma, who is being treated for shock at Phuket