Harborough Mail, Published Date: 05 November 2009

Thai woman and lover jailed over murder

THE THAI wife of a Harborough-born man has been jailed for life along with her lover after being found guilty of murdering her husband.

Ian Beeston (69), who grew up in Knights End Road, Great Bowden, was clubbed and stabbed to death in Roi-Et, north-eastern Thailand, on August 9, last year.

A murder trail started last Thursday and standing accused of Mr Beeston's murder were his 43-year-old wife Wachariewau Beeston (nee Kongmee) and her lover Songjit Channondon (49).

Unlike British law, where trials can takes weeks if not months, Thai justice proved swift.

Statements for prosecution and defence were given last Thursday and a Roi-Et courtroom found the defendants guilty.

The hearing was adjourned until yesterday, when Mr Beeston's wife and Channondon were sentenced to life behind bars.

It is believed Mr Beeston's wife denied the murder charge and that Channondon admitted assault but denied intending to kill Mr Beeston.

Under the strange system of Thai law, after Channondon was arrested last summer he was taken back to the scene of the murder and showed onlookers how he had clubbed Mr Beeston to death with a bamboo-like cane.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said yesterday: "We are aware of the sentencing of Wachariewau Kongmee and Songjit Channondon.

"Both have been found guilty at a Roi-Et courtroom and given life imprisonment for the murder of Mr Beeston.

"We are in close contact with the family."

Father-of-two Mr Beeston was described as a 'lovely chap' by neighbours in Thailand.

It is believed he moved to the country ten years ago and invested his £350,000 life savings in a guest house and restaurant.

A former pupil at Market Harborough Grammar School – now Robert Smyth – and a member of the town's air cadets, he moved away from Harborough when aged in his 20s.

His body was found in a blood-soaked room and Thai authorities said Mr Beeston may have taken as long as seven hours to die.

Mr Beeston's step-sister Hilary Dew, now of Worthing, told the Mail yesterday: "I'm pleased to hear they have been found guilty and that they are being punished.

"Being this distance away it's difficult to add any more."

However, she did query the thoroughness of the Thai legal system, given the brief tenure of the court hearing.

Mrs Dew's father, Arnold Tipper, married Mr Beeston's mother Lilian, but they both died in a car crash in Berkshire in 1966.

The full article contains 424 words and appears in Harborough Mail newspaper.

The link to the article and photos:

http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/Thai-...iled.5796142.jp

This thread is an update to several other threads that are closed:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/search.html&...lite=%2Bbeeston

With that I agree, Sassienie. Unfortunately, men seldom think with the proper head when it comes to pretty ladies. I see nothing wrong with setting some lovely lady up in a nice home and taking care of her, but don't fall for the marriage thing. Just think of it as a gift, or some sort of charity... because that is all it is. I'm glad that justice has finally been served in this case. It shows the Thai court system isn't all bad. It certainly isn't any worse than what we have in Canada.

I have had two long term relationships with women 20 years younger than me (in UK) - and they certainly weren't after my money. Both only failed as they wanted kids and I didn't.

Marrying someone for money is very common and happens all around the world... But murdering a 69 year-old to get your hands on his cash is entirely different. They both should have gotten the death penalty.


TheWalkingMan

Play for pay would be more accurate.

all over the world, husbands murder wives, and wives murder husbands when they meet someone new, and want to take all the spoils of their marriage with them.

This is far from unique to Thailand or marriages with large age gaps.

No matter how many times you write 'no disrespect', implying the man is stupid is disrespectful.

Daewoo.

I agree with your last sentence. Some of these posts should not have been posted; or removed by the mods. The thread is about a death and a murder convistion . Not about how we view certain farang - thai marriages

A very tragic tale, I do remember a thread on this forum relating to this unfortunate fellow.

I would like to show another side to the Thai justice system that my family has been going through, involving the murder of my wifes teenage cousin. Take a look at this thread.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Murder-t197146.html

I wonder if this news will be covered in the local media?

I have had two long term relationships with women 20 years younger than me (in UK) - and they certainly weren't after my money. Both only failed as they wanted kids and I didn't.
[/quote]


Personally I dont see a problem with a guy almost 70 being in a relationship with a woman 20 years his junior. If he was 25 and the same age gap applied then I would have a problem .

Anyway back on topic, its good to see swift action like this and hopefully the woman and her cohorts rot in jail. At least this matter wasnt dragged out like the Dale Henry murder debarkle.

I was thinking the same thing.
I wonder if the Dale Henry case dragged on because of issues within the case, or if the local justice system in Rayong is more biased against farang than the Roi Et one. I guess we'll never know.

If justice was swift in this case, perhaps we can use it as a precedent?

This post has been edited by Meridian007: 2009-11-06 10:16:43

I believe that there can be love between a 45-year-old guy and a 25-year-old girl as well as I believe that there can be no love between spouses of the same age. Of course, I am aware that many (most?) marriages have more to do with money than with feelings and the financial status (mainly of the male) is one of the most important factors (no matter in which part of the world).

So maybe it is most safe to stay single all our lives long.

Let the victim rest in peace. [']

This post has been edited by joorakee: 2009-11-06 10:52:19

I am 23 years older than my Japanese GF. She graduated from a top uni in Tokyo, has high paying job here in bangkok, comes from a family that is upper middle class and if we get married they offered to put down a deposit on a house for us. She won a beauty contest a few years back - after we met.
You see some of us older men are still goodlooking, fit and strong, as well as being wise, successful..oh yes and
humble .

As I recall, this was the case where the victim had told local acquaintances that he feared his wife would soon have him killed. His wife had thrown him out of the house but he refused to leave the property and was living in a shed. He was stone broke and determined not to be forced from his home. I remember reading that he had not only built a house and funded a restaurant, but also had put two of her kids through University.
When friends didn't see him for several days, they investigated and found his body: his own prediction come true.

Nice that there was a conviction in this case. I recall the one in Pattaya where a very wealthy expat was killed by some of his Thai wife's family, including a politically powerful former Kanman from Chonburi. The case dragged on for years and while the wife finally ended up doing time, the Kanman walked.

I think you are right Dave. If it was the same case, the poor bloke sent a letter to his lawyer stating that he felt an attempt on his life was approaching. A material document in court.

Unless one is in a position to have known the deceased, I don't think one is in a position to categorize the deceased as an old fool. Note that the accused male was older than the woman and was hardly a spring chicken himself.

In any case, the observation that the deceased may have lingered for 7 hours before dying should be enough to silence anyone thinking he "got what was expected". Old fool or not, lying there in a pool of blood for that period of time is one lhorrible way to go. Sickening, depraved savages. I hope the murderers have a long life so that they can contemplate their crime while in prison.

death sentence would be better, in the sama way they killed the poor fellow

death sentence would be better, in the same way they killed the poor fellow

I have deleted many posts and will review them for formal warnings. This post is about a man who is deceased. He is no longer alive to defend himself and the decisions he made. Therefore, you may refrain from criticizing his decisions.

The topic is about the conviction of the wife and her lover. Please stay on topic.

My deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victim.

Could these two possibly get out on parole? They need to rot in prison.

Ibelieve that there can be love between a 45-year-old guy and a 25-year-old girl as well as I believe that there can be no love between spouses of the same age. Of course, I am aware that many (most?) marriages have more to do with money than with feelings and the financial status (mainly of the male) is one of the most important factors (no matter in which part of the world).

So maybe it is most safe to stay single all our lives long.

Let the victim rest in peace. [']
[/quote]

Im 42 & my beautiful thai wife is 26. & yes I have helped support her and her family when needed. However, im no way described as wealthy back home, in fact i just keep my head above water which she was fully aware of before we got married. I want for nothing when im with her family & its not my pockets being used to pay for things. in fact my wife has on many occasions aided me financially when my money has run out. We both dote on each other and are best friends. i say each to their own choices.

There you have it! Another example of what marry-for-money will end up like.
Marrying bar-girls to whom you could be their father or even grandfather, always comes at a price. That fact that this is very common, is not a surprise. But the amazing thing is how surprised they get, when they realize that their beloved wife doesn't love him. As long as the oldies really understand this fact, they wouldn't get any surprises.

Interesting generalization. I knew a young guy early 20's who was dating a girl in his office. Unknown to him was she was somebody's mia noi. Walked out of his apartment one night and was hit in the back of the head by a guy with a metal bar.

Died a few weeks later in hospital. Did he deserve it?

'Unlike British law, where trials can takes weeks if not months, Thai justice proved swift'