Aug 2010, Raymond Hind; death on his Thai wife’s orders.
A tragic incident unfolded in Thailand as Raymond Hind, a 68 year old retired businessman from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, was brutally clubbed to death. The police claim that Hind's terminally ill condition, suffering from throat cancer and constriction of the arteries to his brain, prompted his Thai wife to order the killing.
According to a close relative, the wife expressed her impatience and callously stated that she couldn't wait for Hind to pass away naturally. This shocking crime adds to a series of killings committed by Thai wives seeking immediate access to their spouses' inheritance.
The fatal attack occurred in the couple's opulent retirement home in Hua Hin, located 150 miles south of Bangkok. Irony shrouds this place, as it was also the site of a previous tragedy involving Toby Charnaud, a Chippenham gentleman farmer who was beaten to death by his estranged wife's relatives in 2006. Disturbingly, Charnaud's body was later fed to tigers in Kaeng Krajan National Park.
Hind's wife, Bunnag, also known as 'Namfon' or 'Falling Rain,' was subsequently taken into custody on July 27th, charged with conspiracy to murder. Her lover, Tanakorn, was also charged, while her brother, Pomgrit, suspected of actually carrying out the killing, is currently evading capture.
The motive for the crime, according to Hua Hin police, was solely Hind's substantial assets. Police Commander Vichien Tantawiriat dismissed the wife's claims of abuse, considering Hind's deteriorating health and terminal condition. The police account is corroborated by a cousin of Namfon, who worked at her bar.
Benjawong Singtuen, 32, from Kamphaeng Phet province, stated that Namfon confided in him about her impatience for Raymond's demise. She claimed he had promised her a significant sum of money and that the bar and business were under her name. Singtuen, appalled by Namfon's actions, left her bar and emphasized Hind's frail state, labeling the crime as truly evil. Namfon's family, hailing from Nakhon Sawan, reportedly went into hiding, deeply ashamed of their daughter's actions.
Tragically, Hind's fate mirrors that of two other British individuals, Hyde and Charnaud, who met similar ends in Thailand. Ian Beeston, a retired design engineer, also fell victim to his Thai wife's deadly plot in 2008. Prior to his death, Beeston had expressed his fear for his life in a letter to his lawyers. Despite his intention to defend himself with a stun gun, Beeston was attacked in his sleep by his wife's lover, Somchit. Both were eventually charged with murder.
Disturbingly, Thai wives involved in such crimes appear willing to take the risk of being caught. Statistics indicate that murder suspects in Thailand can be released from prison in as little as four years if they show remorse and exhibit model behavior during their incarceration.
The British Embassy in Bangkok, witnessing an average of 70 marriages per week between older British individuals and young Thai partners, now faces the somber task of assisting victims and preventing further tragedies.
Oct 2013, Thai Police conclude investigation into British pensioner's murder.
Thai police have concluded their investigation into the murder of Raymond Hind, a 68-year-old retired garage owner from North London, who was brutally killed in his retirement home three years ago. Following the recent sentencing of Hind's wife to life in prison and her lover to 33 years, Thai authorities have apprehended the wife's younger brother, Komkrit Imnoi, charging him as the third accomplice in the crime. The murder sent shockwaves through the British community in Hua Hin, a coastal city 200 miles south of Bangkok.
Witnesses had revealed that Hind, who was terminally ill, had expressed concerns about potential attacks due to stories circulating about his wife, known as 'Namfon' or 'Falling Rain.' He kept a shotgun by his bedside for protection. The case highlights the disturbing trend of violence involving British expatriates in Thailand. Despite initial challenges, Hind's daughter Zoe, supported by fellow British pensioners, managed to keep the case alive with the assistance of a family lawyer and the involvement of British Embassy officials.
The case exposed the chilling actions orchestrated by Bunnag and her family, causing shock and concern within the British community in Hua Hin.