Sentencing Hearing at Pattaya Court House following Dutch Murder trial.

December 21, 2007

On Friday Morning we were given rare access to the Courtrooms at the Pattaya Provincial Courthouse located on the Thappraya Road leading to Jomtien Beach. A trial which begun on 27th March 2004 has now come to a conclusion with the sentencing hearing. The case relates to the murder of Mr. Jules Odekerken from the Netherlands, who was killed in front of his Pattaya House on 17th November 2003. Mr. Odekerken was married, at the time, to Khun Marisa and the couple had two children, one of which was adopted by Mr. Odekerken. Two suspects emerged in the case, one was the brother of Khun Marisa and the other was her lover who fathered a child with Khun Marisa while she was married to Mr.Odekerken. The apparent motive behind the murder was related to Mr. Odekerken’s money and other assets. In the Courthouse, Khun Seksan, the brother of Mr. Odekerken’s Wife, was sentenced to life in prison without parole. His sentence was reduced because of his cooperation with the Police. The second suspect, Khun Anupong, a former City Councilor from Chumporn Province in the South of Thailand, was sentenced in his absence because he was bailed following the charges in 2004 and has been on the run ever since. He was sentenced to death for his part in the murder. Supporters of Mr. Odekerken were in court to hear the verdicts which were well received. Many spoke of a satisfactory conclusion to this long running case.

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