Murderer of 57 Year-old Swiss Woman in Phuket Sentenced to Death

The murderer of Swiss tourist Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf has been sentenced to death by a Phuket court on Wednesday. The killer’s sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment because he pleaded guilty.

Swiss tourist Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, 57 was murdered at a waterfall in Phuket on Aug 3, 2021. She had arrived in Phuket under the Sandbox program.

On Aug 3, Mr. Teerawat Thothip, also known as Bang Faree and Bang Ree, 28, went to Ao Yon waterfall in tambon Wichit to pick wild orchids and plants.

During Teerawat’s descent, she discovered Sauvain-Weisskopf, who was deputy protocol chief of the Swiss National Assembly, sitting on a rock, moving her feet through a stream. He said he became sexually aroused as she was wearing shorts and a tight t-shirt.

Sexually Aroused at Phuket Waterfall

Teerawat approached the woman behind her and encircled her in a chokehold with the intent to rape her. After she struggled, he put her head into the water until she went unconscious.

In court, Teerawat admitted dragging her to the shore and stripping her of her shorts and underwear. As he turned her face up, he found her tongue swollen and her complexion was turning blue. He said he then lost all desire for her.

Teerawat covered her body with a black plastic sheet he found nearby and covered that with rocks. He then searched her bag and stole 300 baht.

Several days later, Teerawat was arrested and charged with murder, attempted rape, and indecent assault.

Teerawat was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by the court. Because he confessed to the crime, his death sentence was commuted to life. Indecent assault and attempted rape charges were dismissed.

The victim’s husband and two sons watched the Phuket Court’s sentencing on Tuesday afternoon via live teleconferencing on Google Meet from Switzerland.