Britons' murder suspect gives himself up

Last updated at 09:27 07 October 2004


A Thai policeman suspected of the murder of two British backpackers last month has given himself up, local police said today.

Sergeant Somchai Visetsingha had been on the run since Adam Lloyd and his girlfriend Vanessa Arscott were gunned down in western Thailand in the early hours of September 9.

Visetsingha gave himself up near the Burma border today and was to be flown to the provincial police headquarters, local police said.

Mr Lloyd, 25, and Miss Arscott, 23, were shot in the western province of Kanchanaburi, close to the famous bridge over the River Kwai, after a row in a local restaurant.

Visetsingha is accused of killing Arscott with his car as she tried to flee in the early hours of the morning.

Police said Somchai was flown from his border hideout in a military helicopter to Kanchanaburi police headquarters where he would be interrogated.

Sgt. Somchai Visetsingha

Thai ITV television reported that Somchai was staying with Karen rebels along the border before he offered to surrender to police on Monday.

Looking tired in a green military T-shirt and in handcuffs, Somchai was brought into a police station where British Ambassador Andy Pearce expressed his satisfaction and commended Thai police for arresting one of their own.

A police officer said they would take Somchai for a reenactment of the crime at the scene later today.

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