Phuket teen confesses to bashing American man on beach

[webfact]

Phuket teen confesses to bashing American on beach


Jonathan Lemley was found lying on the beach unconscious. Photo Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- A young Thai who has admitted to bludgeoning a Caucasian visitor into a coma today (October 28) reenacted the attack, which took place on Karon Beach, near Nong Harn, on Friday night (October 24).

The Caucasian was found unconscious on the beach the following morning but at that time no ID was found on him. He had a wound on his head, inflicted by a long piece of wood found nearby.

He was taken to hospital and later identified as Jonathan Mark Lemley, of Washington State in the USA. He is still unconscious.

Kitti Thiradeewattananuksan, 18, surrendered last night, coming into Karon Police Station accompanied by the local Kamnan, Winai Chidchiew.

He explained that on Friday night he and some relatives were pulling up their fishing nets from Nong Harn when they noticed a foreigner, who appeared to be drunk, driving onto the beach nearby.

The foreigner got stuck in the sand so Kitti and his relatives went to help him get out of the sand. The foreigner, presumably leaping to the conclusion that he was about to be robbed, grabbed a piece of wood and tried to hit Kitti with it.

Kitti explained that he fell over then kicked the foreigner’s knee so that he, too, fell. Kitti grabbed the piece of wood and hit the foreigner once on the head before walking away.

It was only when he saw news reports later that Kitti became aware that he had done the foreigner some real damage, and decided to turn himself in.

Mr Lemley is in Vachira Phuket Hospital where he appears to be recovering, though he is not yet fully conscious, said Karon Police superintendent Col Nattapakin Khawnchaiyaperng.

When he does recover he is likely to face questioning not only about the beating but also about hashish, methamphetamine pills and crystal meth allegedly found in his pockets.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-teen-confesses-to-bashing-american-on-beach-49366.php


-- Phuket News 2014-10-28

[peptidebomber]

Must be a mistake in reporting this, there is no a way a Thai could do this, I think the reporter is confused, it would of been an immigrant worker I'm sure!

[Yme]

"When he does recover he is likely to face questioning not only about the beating but also about hashish, methamphetamine pills and crystal meth allegedly found in his pockets."

Obviously planted while he was unconscious

[terryp]

thailand makes me more despondent by the day ..I have wasted so much of my life here putting up with so much garbage in this place..it gets worse by the day

I really am starting to hate this place

[Thormaturge]

Bad Kitty

[godwish4love]

thailand makes me more despondent by the day ..I have wasted so much of my life here putting up with so much garbage in this place..it gets worse by the day

I really am starting to hate this place

It is still going to be more worse than this , any one that do not have 4sight will be falling victim of this act of cruelty to foreigners in time to come.

[draftvader]

Seriously, it is getting ridiculous. I know we're all focusing on this because of the Koh Tao case but does it seem to be happening more and more often? Is this the sign of the tourism money running low so more and more people are finding it hard to make ends meet? Is there an increase in anger towards foreigners or is it just our perception and the increased media awareness?

Whatever it is this is not going to help TAT's case.

[kurnell]

Why do these dunderhead local sims always come up with the most preposterous excuse possible? It is true that those with a minimal IQ assume that everyone else is a dim as they are.

[stevenl]

Why do these dunderhead local sims always come up with the most preposterous excuse possible? It is true that those with a minimal IQ assume that everyone else is a dim as they are.

I find the excuse 'I approached him to help, he was afraid of being robbed and tried to hit me so in stead I hit him' very believable. Even more so when the guy was high on something, which seems very likely.

[mommysboy]

That alibi sounds like gob sxxxe.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 1 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[kurnell]

Why do these dunderhead local sims always come up with the most preposterous excuse possible? It is true that those with a minimal IQ assume that everyone else is a dim as they are.

I find the excuse 'I approached him to help, he was afraid of being robbed and tried to hit me so in stead I hit him' very believable. Even more so when the guy was high on something, which seems very likely.

His coma sort of gives it away does it?

[RustBucket]

Well let's just hope that the US embassy have learned from the KT case and makes sure there is a US lawyer and proper translator present before the police can question him about anything. Because it is his right.

Then they can at least record his reaction when the police question him about the drugs supposedly found in his possession.

When I started reading this report, I was actually waiting for the pro-Thai and anti-farang spin, and we got it in the last line.

Typical Thailand, as always full of cover ups and crap from police acting on orders from as high up as you can think.

But I suppose it all adds up to eventually destroy a tourist industry they don't deserve.

[RustBucket]

Why do these dunderhead local sims always come up with the most preposterous excuse possible? It is true that those with a minimal IQ assume that everyone else is a dim as they are.

I find the excuse 'I approached him to help, he was afraid of being robbed and tried to hit me so in stead I hit him' very believable. Even more so when the guy was high on something, which seems very likely.

I nominate YOU as the thread apologist.

[stevenl]

Why do these dunderhead local sims always come up with the most preposterous excuse possible? It is true that those with a minimal IQ assume that everyone else is a dim as they are.

I find the excuse 'I approached him to help, he was afraid of being robbed and tried to hit me so in stead I hit him' very believable. Even more so when the guy was high on something, which seems very likely.

I nominate YOU as the thread apologist.

So what has accepting an excuse to do with apologists?

[stevenl]

That alibi sounds like gob sxxxe.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 1 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

What alibi?

[stevenl]

Why do these dunderhead local sims always come up with the most preposterous excuse possible? It is true that those with a minimal IQ assume that everyone else is a dim as they are.

I find the excuse 'I approached him to help, he was afraid of being robbed and tried to hit me so in stead I hit him' very believable. Even more so when the guy was high on something, which seems very likely.

His coma sort of gives it away does it?

What does his coma give away, except for the fact that he got hit?

[philthebook]

thailand makes me more despondent by the day ..I have wasted so much of my life here putting up with so much garbage in this place..it gets worse by the day

I really am starting to hate this place

I personally don't think it is getting much worse, it's just we are more aware of these incidents now because of social media.

[NamKangMan]

That alibi sounds like gob sxxxe.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 1 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

What alibi?

I think he means, "self defence" as his justification for the assault.

[Thai at Heart]

When he does recover he is likely to face questioning not only about the beating but also about hashish, methamphetamine pills and crystal meth allegedly found in his pockets.

What, no kiddie porn too? Or illegal passports suggesting he's a people trafficker?

I guess that's one way to make the case go away. Unless of course the poor guy dies. I can see them scrabbling to come up with a way to make this story go away.

[Bkklocal]

Self defense.

Probably true - drunk people who knows.

http://www.siam247.com/phuket-news/2934-beach-attack-on-american-was-self-defence-says-phuket-teen

[NamKangMan]

thailand makes me more despondent by the day ..I have wasted so much of my life here putting up with so much garbage in this place..it gets worse by the day

I really am starting to hate this place

I personally don't think it is getting much worse, it's just we are more aware of these incidents now because of social media.

In my opinion, there has definately been an increase in "reported crime" on Phuket, in recent time.

You suggest, this is because the dissemination of the crime reports is easier now, due to social media, but social media has been around for a few years now, and I am simply seeing more crime reports in the media.

What is concerning, is the esculated level of violence in a lot of these crimes.

[Mr Yim]

Firstly, lets hope the victim recovers. I also trust the Americans will have men on the scene to get witness reports.

[Johnnie99]

Can anyone else smell bullshit?

[circusman]

thailand makes me more despondent by the day ..I have wasted so much of my life here putting up with so much garbage in this place..it gets worse by the day

I really am starting to hate this place

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.

[NamKangMan]

Can anyone else smell bullshit?

An independent drug test of the American's blood would be interesting.

It would either strengthen, or seriously weaken, their drug possession case.

Edited October 28, 2014 by NamKangMan

[inzman]

He hit the guy in the head with a log while he is down, and calls it self-defense? Used to be the Philippines was dangerous, but these days Thailand has surely taken over that notorious honor.

[NoBrainer]

Did anyone consider the possibility that the guy was stoned out of his mind on Ya-Ba and was being aggressive to the point where he was dangerous?

What was he doing trying to ride a motorcycle in soft sand? That already points to him being unable to think rationally, or just plain stupid.

[shawndoc]

Phuket and some of the other islands have figured this out.

After being caught assaulting a foreigner, always claim it was self defense and the foreigner attacked you first.

Then the BIB will go to the foreigner and give them two choices. 1) They will confiscate the passport, stranding the foreigner in the country until a trial can be set (often months away) and the courts can determine who started the fight. or 2) Allow the foreigner to leave the country if they promise to never come back. This may also include a requirement to apologize to the Thai for starting the fight

[alanferdi]

Must be a mistake in reporting this, there is no a way a Thai could do this, I think the reporter is confused, it would of been an immigrant worker I'm sure!

Yeah surely a bit mistake by the Reporter....A Thai doing such a thing?

And who would plant all that neat stuff on the guy.... well, phew its a good thing that he confessed as being a good citizen. Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa dhu

[Equalizer]

OK so lets look at what we can make out from this picture. The foreigner got stuck in the sand so Kitti and his relatives went to help him get out of the sand. Well yes we can see the bike is stuck in the sand however can any of you see any other convenient pieces of wood at all in this picture? I would say this picture covers an area of 50 sqr meters and not even another twig in sight. The foreigner, presumably leaping to the conclusion that he was about to be robbed, grabbed a piece of wood and tried to hit Kitti with it. Hmmm sorry not for me old chaps, complete fabrication. The piece of wood in question had to be part of the tools needs for holding fishing nets and thus we can safely assume that it was indeed the Thai who brought the wood to the scene. This could have been used to try and free the bike from the sand however in this scenario why would the Thai lad twist the story? Simple, he is guilty of assault and his advisers who told him to use this story are as thick as two short planks.

Edited October 28, 2014 by metisdead
Bold font removed.