Thai Taxi Drver Finally Jailed for Murder of Richard Collins in 2005

Richard Collins was stabbed to death in Krabi, Thailand, in March, 2005.

 

BANGKOK – The Supreme Court in Bangkok  has confirmed a 15 year sentence on Uten Duangnoi, a Thai man who stabbed her son Richard Collins, 35, to death in the Thai Province of Krabi in 2005.

Uthain Duangnoi admitting killing the 35-year-old, he never faced a day inside prison until this week because Thai authorities could not agree on the length of sentence he should serve.

Richard Collins mother, 62 year old Yvonne Hart says she finally has closure after her son’s killer this week began a 15-year prison sentence.

Richard Collins was stabbed to death in Krabi, Thailand, in March, 2005 and despite Uthain Duangnoi admitting killing the 35-year-old, he never faced a day inside prison until this week because Thai authorities could not agree on the length of sentence he should serve.

Duangnoi, a local taxi driver, was initially sentenced to 15 years, but this was halved on appeal.

 

Shocked at the short sentence, Richard’s mother Yvonne Hart successfully applied to the Thai Appeal Court to re-instate the 15- year stretch.

 

But, Duangnoi again appealed to the country’s Supreme Court to have the sentence reduced and was on bail throughout the process.

 

However, his appeal was thrown out on Tuesday – and he started his 15-year sentence.

 

“I am absolutely delighted that our appeal has been upheld because it’s been a long, hard struggle,” said Yvonne.

 

Yvonne, from Belmont, Hereford, added: “I am just so thrilled.”

However, Yvonne said that she is still disappointed with how the Foreign Office has treated her family during the eight years and will be joining 100 other people whose relatives have been murdered abroad at a demonstration at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on October 9.

Richard and his Mother Yvonne

 

“They are not consistent with how they treat people,” said Yvonne, who works as a teaching assistant at Hampton Dene Primary School.

 

“It’s an unfortunate fact that when young British women are attacked and murdered abroad it makes headlines in all the newspapers.

 

“When it happens to a young man, it’s just a few paragraphs at best.

“I don’t begrudge people who are fast tracked with their trials, but everyone should be treated the same.”

 

Richard, who loved rock climbing and poetry, was killed when he returned to Krabi with his Thai girlfriend Phanida Meedee.

 

The couple checked in at the Greenery Hotel after being picked up by their friend Sunitsa Sririrot.

 

But when Sunitsa asked Richard to drive, her husband Uthain Duangnoi flew into a jealous rage when he saw the Hereford man behind the wheel and he stabbed Richard to death.