British Shane Looker found guilty of brutal Murder of Thai woman in 2014.
Feb 2015, S. Looker involved in Thai lady murder plans to surrender to authorities.
"He denies killing Laxami Manochat and will face justice voluntarily".
In a case involving the murder of a Thai dancer, British national Shane Looker, 45, from Stoke on Trent, has admitted leaving a bar with the victim but maintains his innocence in her death. Laxami Manochat's dismembered body was discovered inside a suitcase that was found in the Mae Klong River, located south of Bangkok. He is the last known person to have had contact with Miss Manochat.
Authorities in Bangkok revealed CCTV footage showing Looker and Miss Manochat leaving Nana Plaza, an area known for attracting foreign men seeking entertainment. Looker, who is currently evading capture, acknowledged paying a bar in Bangkok's red light district to spend time with her.
Speaking through his lawyer, he vehemently denies killing her and intends to surrender to the police for questioning. He stated, "There is no way in the world that I'd ever hurt any woman, let alone kill her. This is a despicable crime which I vehemently deny. I look forward to proving my innocence in the fullness of time. I have been advised to get my affairs in order so that I can surrender to the appropriate authorities with a properly instructed legal team."
Looker arrived in Thailand on October 31 and was last seen with Miss Manochat on November 2. Her body was discovered in the river on November 9, concealed within the suitcase, weighted down by rocks. Following the identification of the victim's remains, investigators were able to identify Miss Manochat leaving Nana Plaza with a muscular Caucasian man. CCTV images of the pair were widely distributed throughout Thailand, but his identity remained unknown until a tip off to a Thai blog provided his full name, nationality, address in Hua Hin, and a photo of his passport, which was subsequently passed on to the police.
Although Looker had already left the address when officers arrived, they discovered clothing matching his description from the night of November 1, when he was captured on CCTV. DNA evidence from items found at the scene, such as nail clippers and a toothbrush, reportedly matches DNA found under her fingernails.
The investigation led authorities to a shop where he allegedly purchased rocks similar to those found in the suitcase used to hide her dismembered body. Police also began searching for the driver who transported Looker and Miss Manochat out of Bangkok.
While it was initially believed that the pair had traveled directly from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi on November 2, further inquiry revealed that hr had checked out of Gulliver's Hotel in Bangkok later that morning and took a minibus bound for Hua Hin at 9:30 am. The whereabouts of her during this journey have not been disclosed by the police.
Investigation records indicate that he fled Thailand into Malaysia on November 24 via a train border crossing. According to the Thai blog, it is understood that he subsequently traveled to Ibiza, where he reportedly spends the European summer months and has a share in a hotel in Ibiza town. It is not believed that he has returned to the UK. Thai authorities have sought assistance from Interpol in locating the suspect.
May 2022, riveting justice, he was sentenced to jail.
In a Thai court, a British man was found guilty of the murder that took place in 2014. The victim, a 27 year old entertainment worker, was killed by him in a hotel room, after which he disposed of her dismembered body. The court sentenced him to eight years in prison for his heinous crime.
According to the police investigation, Looker had been captured in photographs with Laxami, also known as "Pook," leaving a go go bar in Bangkok on November 1, 2014. The pair were seen entering a hotel together. The court also ordered Looker to pay compensation of nearly 10 million baht ($300,000) plus interest to Laxami's mother, as well as two million baht plus interest to Laxami's daughter.
Laxami's dismembered remains were discovered on November 6, 2014, inside a suitcase filled with stones and thrown into the Mae Klong River. Looker's DNA was later found under her fingernails, providing damning evidence against him.
The Kanchanaburi Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant on January 28, 2015, charging Looker with "murdering and hiding, moving, or destroying a body in order to conceal the death or cause of death." However, before the warrant was issued, Looker had already fled to Spain after staying at his vacation home in the upscale Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin for several weeks. From there, he took a train to Malaysia.
Witnesses reported seeing Looker leaving the hotel premises alone, carrying a heavy bag that required two people to carry. Additionally, a hotel cleaner noted that the bedsheets in the room were stained with blood.
After evading authorities for years, Looker was apprehended by Spanish authorities on the party island of Ibiza in June 2017, acting on an international arrest warrant. He engaged in an extensive legal battle against extradition, claiming that he would face inhumane treatment if sent back to Thailand.
His challenge was ultimately rejected by the European Court of Human Rights after Thai authorities provided assurances that he would not be subjected to the death penalty. In July, he was extradited to Thailand to face trial, where he received his conviction and sentencing.