SoiledCowboy Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 A particulary sad news event that occured in the NT of Australia a little while ago, might at least see a bit of justice delivered to the perpertrators soon, never enough though, considering the suffering of the poor victims families back home in Thailand. Teens face 25 years over sex-worker deathsBy Karen Michelmore 16-05-2005 From: AAP A TEENAGER who drowned two sex workers in a crocodile-infested river could face deportation if he is found not to be an Australian citizen, a court heard today. Vietnamese-born Phu Ngoc Trinh and Ben William McLean continue to deny they murdered sex workers Phuangsri Kroksamrang, 58, and Somjai Insamnan, 27, as a judge prepares to lock them up for at least 25 years. The women were bound with cable ties, weighed down with car batteries and thrown alive into the Adelaide River near Darwin after having consensual sex with Trinh and McLean in March last year. Their floating bodies were discovered by crocodile-spotting tour guides a few days later. Justice Dean Mildren said there was no apparent motive and, because of their protests of innocent, no evidence of contrition by the two 19-year-old men. Lawyers for the two high-school friends today urged the Northern Territory Supreme Court to set only the minimum 25-year non-parole period, after a jury found them guilty in March. The prosecution said it would not seek more than 25 years. However, Justice Mildren said it might "seem a bit unjust" if Trinh, the primary offender, received the same sentence as McLean. The court heard that Trinh strangled the women in the back of his family van, while McLean drove to the river, where both men threw them off a bridge, apparently unaware they were still alive. Justice Mildren also raised questions about the immigration status of Trinh, who was born in a rural village in Vietnam and fled to Thailand, and eventually Australia, as a refugee. Trinh told his lawyer he was an Australian citizen, but Justice Mildren ordered the defence to produce documentation or "he might face deportation". "You never know with the immigration department," Justice Mildren said. McLean's lawyer, Suzan Cox, said her client had never been in trouble with the police until now and was of good character. She pointed to a psychologist's report which said McLean had expressed "genuine empathy" for the victims and would be an excellent candidate for rehabilitation. The report said McLean had been depressed and anxious upon entering prison, because of the victims' suffering and the trauma he had caused his family and friends. "He described his feelings as extreme sadness and anxiety in respect of what had happened to the victims, despite denial of his involvement," the report, tendered in court, said. Meanwhile, a victim impact statement, signed by Thailand's ambassador to Australia, said Ms Insamnan's family continued to suffer after her death, as she provided the main source of income for the impoverished family in a Thai village. As well as the trauma of losing a loved one, the family had found it difficult to pay for the return of Ms Insamnan's ashes to Thailand and for her funeral, and now lacked financial support. Trinh and McLean, who are appealing against their convictions, will be sentenced tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Hi Yes i remember this story...will be interested in the outcome Tuesday.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 They got twenty five years....truth in sentencing :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 << McLean's lawyer, Suzan Cox, said her client had never been in trouble with the police until now and was of good character. She pointed to a psychologist's report which said McLean had expressed "genuine empathy" for the victims and would be an excellent candidate for rehabilitation. >> Gimme a forking break! You help murder two women ... but you've got a good character and just have to say you are sorry??? p.s. Made the papers in Thailand when it happened, all right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorro Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 25 years....sounds fair enough... And yet the Corby girl is facing life in an Indonesian gaol for some weed.... it is a strange world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Forgot...yeah Corby will get at least that..... :: The case when a girl was raped and they cut her throat? The judge wrote *never to be released*on the papers.....this is what these should have got...IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoiledCowboy Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Yup, that's just 12.5 years per life...not enough, but a NT prison would be tough though, the only consolation. Four out of those "Bali nine" might just get what they have missed out on in Australian "justice"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Hi....Yes looks like it...BTW the drug dealer that was shot dead in Jakarta....... paper today says ...he has links with Bali 9..travel docs etc...the plot thickens.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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