Could these be examples of "white on white" crime? Tourists harming each other? Not to ignore the tragedy involved, but beach areas, world-wide, attract a variety of people, some of whom have violent proclivities.

Waikiki had virtually no crime until the influx of Mainlanders "imported it".

Two local fisherman have been charged with the murder and rape of the young British girl on Samui.Apparently they had even been boasting about it to their mates.

I can only hope that this terrible and tragic incident results in a crack down on the increasing crime that has been occurring on the island within the last couple of years or so.

Samui is now under the spotlight.Let us hope that things start to improve for the sake of both tourists and locals alike.

Samui is NOT the paradise it once was. There has been problems there for a long time and this recent murder of a young girl has, at last, made the Thai Prime Minister sit up and take notice. Today he states that he hopes the fishermen, if found guilty, are executed. Police were unable to carry out a re-enactment of the murder with the suspects as the islanders were armed with sticks trying to kill them as, quite rightly, they know this will affect tourism. Hopefully, things will now improve in Samui and it will return to being paradise.

According to the local paper, their DNA matched the DNA found in the body, and they have both confessed. They are in their early 20's.

The trial of the two men (23 and 24, I think) starts today. They are seeking the death penalty, and may execute them within days. Considering that the body was found on the 2nd, and they may have executions this month, that is pretty quick justice (much faster than Aruba.)

I recommend that you check your source regarding the court proceedure for a murder trial here in Thailand. Typical capital crime case last over several months and the execution itself, if sentenced, will be carry out around 2 - 5 years after the sentence was passed.

Bangkok Post and all the UK papers are reporting that the 1 day trial has been held (as they pleaded guilty, I guess it was short?) and that sentencing will be next Wednesday.

Bella, yes they pleaded guilty and since they did that there's a chance that they might not get the death penalty. If they did get the death sentence it will not be "within days" more like a year or two or longer.

Very high profile case and to get two murderer to confess so quickly I think a deal was made - 50 years life sentences?.

brad, for that matter, its waaayyyyyyyyy lot faster than us.

Hi Hanuman - I understood your point re. the lapse of time between sentencing and execution from your first post though - but I thought you were saying that there was going to be a capital crime case lasting a few months from your post. I see know that you were just putting that bit in to illustrate what was typical for good measure now and not referring to this case at all.

Bella, you're right I was referring to a typical case where the accuse does not confess. I've seen murder cases drag on for a long time with appeals all the way to the Thai supreme court.

I'm happy that these two were caught and I wish the worst for them!

Everything was done super quick, wasn't it? I don't think you could expedite a trial here (UK) with that speed. My thoughts are with her family - it must be a horrendous loss and particularly traumatic given that she was on the phone to her mother when she was attacked.