Thread: Breakthrough in murdered backpacker Kirsty Jones investigation

Breakthrough in murdered backpacker Kirsty Jones investigation



According to the UK’s newspaper the Daily Mail British detectives have identified the man who raped and murdered Welsh backpacker Kirsty Jones in a Thai youth hostel.


Two senior officers from Dyfed Powys police made the remarkable breakthrough by matching the DNA found on the sarong used to strangle her with a Thai suspect. It is thought that an arrest could even be made later this week much to the relief of Kirsty’s parents, Glyn and Sue Jones, who have been distraught that no one has been brought to justice for the death of their 23-year-old daughter.


Armed with the scientific evidence, Superintendent Steve Wilkins and Detective Inspector Steve Hughson will travel to Bangkok tomorrow to meet with the Royal Thai Police detectives who drafted them in last year in a bid to track down the killer.
Senior police sources told The Mail on Sunday that forensic scientists in Wales carried out DNA tests on evidence taken from Kirsty’s room in the Aree guest house in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, where she was found dead in August 2000.


Traces of the killer’s semen and skin cells were found on the sarong that was used to strangle the university graduate from Tredomen, South Wales. They said ‘Thanks to some very complex scientific tests we have a result that is positive. We have got the breakthrough that is needed in seeking the killer of Kirsty Jones,’ said a source. ‘We are taking that evidence out to Thailand where it will hopefully give the police the identity of the person responsible and lead to an arrest. ‘This development can only be good for Kirsty’s family who have waited a long time for this.’


Mr and Mrs Jones said last night that they did not want to comment on the latest developments. But a family friend said: ‘As far as they are concerned, this is part of an ongoing investigation. They are staying in touch with the police about developments.’ At the time of Kirsty’s murder, the Royal Thai police were accused of bungling the investigation. Officers failed to seal off the scene of the crime and vital evidence could have been contaminated.


They arrested Andrew Gill, the British owner of the guest house, and charged him with conspiracy to rape and murder with a person unknown. The 33-year-old had not called police immediately after the discovery of Kirsty’s body because, he later admitted, he was worried about being arrested as his visa had run out. But Mr Gill was later released after the State Attorney decided that there was insufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Crucially, there was no DNA to link him to the scene of the crime and he is now back in Britain.


The manager of the guest house, Surin Chanpranet, was also quizzed and another eight suspects were asked to give DNA samples, but all were cleared of being involved. Then, last September, the Thai police accepted an offer of assistance from Dyfed Powys police, in particular with forensic tests. Officers returned from Thailand with samples from the murder scene, including the sarong.


Kirsty had set off on a round-the-world trip in May 2000 after graduating from Liverpool University. She had always wanted to travel and began her adventure in Singapore and Malaysia before moving on to Thailand. It was there that she planned to meet her best friend, Rhianne Williams, and the two were going travel together for a month.


Kirsty then intended to go on to Bali and Australia to meet up with her boyfriend who was working in Sydney. But she was alone when she stayed at the cheap and seedy guest house in the hills of Chiang Mai.


Breakthrough in murdered backpacker Kirsty Jones investigation - Samui Times

It's kind of amazing that it would take nearly 20 years to find something as definitive as semen on a sarong in this century, but better late than never.

Why would they make it public knowledge? Weird

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Why would they make it public knowledge? Weird

Exactly. The suspect could be drinking with a Red Bull heir by morning.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

At the time of Kirsty’s murder, the Royal Thai police were accused of bungling the investigation. Officers failed to seal off the scene of the crime and vital evidence could have been contaminated.

Koh Tao springs to mind.

Think the well known killer has high level police protection? Or maybe that should be had?

Originally Posted by cyrille

It's kind of amazing that it would take nearly 20 years to find something as definitive as semen on a sarong in this century, but better late than never.

It isn't the clearest of reporting.

Initially it says that the break through is matching it to a Thai suspect. Not finding it.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

made the remarkable breakthrough by matching the DNA found on the sarong used to strangle her with a Thai suspect.

But then.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

‘We are taking that evidence out to Thailand where it will hopefully give the police the identity of the person responsible and lead to an arrest.

So not sure if they've matched it to a Thai suspect. Or have the DNA of a Thai bloke, and hoping the Thai police can match it.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Think the well known killer has high level police protection? Or maybe that should be had?

had maybe the case - the copper might have popped his clogs last year

Cold cases get reheated, dna tech improves and perpetrators get caught decades after the fact, happens all the time in the west, don't see why Thailand should be any different ...not everything is because of khao tao mafia, corrupt police, protected hiso, brown envelopes etc

'Lady of Hills' was murdered in the UK 14 years ago, yet only now have the UK police identified her never mind who killed her, even though they had detailed immigration records to work from and knew approx where she lived..

Forensics and detective work is a lot easier behind a keyboard reading through badly written articles..

Statute of limitations is up next year?

Remember the name Tourist Rozzer Tony (local) was bandied around by most locals at the time.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Think the well known killer has high level police protection? Or maybe that should be had?

I thought he was a relative

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Why would they make it public knowledge? Weird

to see who runs.?

yes the ko toa farse comes to mind.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I thought he was a relative

A relative in the police maybe. Will have a look sometime.

Originally Posted by Luigi

Statute of limitations is up next year?

Do you mean the statute of limitations for murder? Which doesn't exist? That one?

Oh Christ.

It wasn't a serious question. (Anybody that knows Thai law would have known that)

Ya clueless nutter.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Do you mean the statute of limitations for murder? Which doesn't exist? That one?

It does exist and in the case of crimes that would get the death penalty it’s 20 years. Thai Criminal Code, Chapter 9, Section 95.

Yeah, he really is completely and utterly clueless about Thai law.

Anyway, the point being about the statute of limitations being up next year, can't see the rozzers giving it priority, if the main suspect is the guilty party.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

It does exist and in the case of crimes that would get the death penalty it’s 20 years. Thai Criminal Code, Chapter 9, Section 95.

Fair enough. I'd actually clicked on the wrong thread; thought it was the lady in the hills thread.
But, ok.

Originally Posted by Luigi

Yeah, he really is completely and utterly clueless about Thai law.

You're not too hot yourself as far as labour and immigration law.

Originally Posted by Maanaam

Fair enough. I'd actually clicked on the wrong thread; thought it was the lady in the hills thread.

Guess we're lucky you weren't convinced that the murder weapon was a tortilla.

Originally Posted by Manny The Illegal Crim

You're not too hot yourself as far as labour and immigration law.

Fraid so buddy. I know it inside out in a professional capacity.

Originally Posted by Luigi

I know it inside out in a professional capacity.

have you got a work permit for that