By: Lindsay Murdoch, Phuket
SMH
Date: August 8, 2012 - 6:40PM
Two Thai criminals have been sentenced to the equivalent of 100 years' imprisonment for the murder of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith on the Thai resort island of Phuket.
Surasat "Boy" Suwannachote, 26, and Surin Tadthong, 37, showed no emotion as a judge in Phuket Central Court told them he would have ordered their execution if they had not admitted their involvement in the murder of Ms Smith on June 20.
Security camera footage showed Surasat stabbing Ms Smith, 60, three times after trying to grab her handbag on Kata Noi beach.
Surin stole a motorcycle and was present during the attack on Ms Smith, who was on the resort island with a group of Perth travel agents.
Lawyers said both men are likely to die in jail even with royal and other remissions.
Both received life imprisonment, which in Thailand is the equivalent of 100 years.
Larry Cunningham, Australia's honorary consul in Phuket, praised Thai police for quickly bringing the men to justice.
But he said many of the criminals targeting tens of thousands of Australian tourists are never brought to justice and some have official protection.
"The major problem has always been the application of the law in Phuket where assaults continue unabated virtually every night and there are little or no arrests of the guilty parties, mainly because they have patronage protection," Mr Cunningam told The Age.
The death of 60-year-old Ms Smith prompted intervention from Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Thailand's top police, who ordered a crackdown on violence against tourists on Thailand's biggest resort island.
At any time there are an average 20,000 Australians holidaying in Phuket.
Mr Cunningham stressed that Phuket remains a safe and "wonderful place to holiday where Australians come and enjoy the Thai hospitality".
Ms Smith, from Perth, was stabbed as she walked back to her hotel after dinner.
After drinking in a bar selling strong homemade alcohol, Surasak and Surin prowled the beach area looking for a robbery victim, Phuket Central Court heard.
Another travel agent, Tammee Lynn, was stabbed and required stitches.
Mr Cunningham monitored the two men's three-day trial.
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