THE suspect in the murder of the Swiss woman tourist at a Phuket waterfall on Tuesday August 3 confessed to the crime via video conference and said he did it because he needed money as he had lost his job while also apologising to her family and all Thai people for the crime, Sanook.com said this afternoon (August 8th).
This video confession to the murder of Mrs. Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, 57, a Phuket Sandbox tourist, was made during a press conference held by National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Suwat Jangyodsuk, Provincial Police Region 8 Chief, Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and police investigators.
The suspect, Mr. Teerawat (last name withheld), or Bang Lee, 27, who is a Phuket native, said at 10 a.m. that on that day he had gone to Ton Ao Yon waterfall to look for heliconias plants and other forest produce and saw the deceased woman sitting alone on the rocks.
Read earlier reports: Suspect in rape, murder of Swiss woman in Phuket arrested
No CCTVs near Phuket waterfall where Swiss woman was found dead
Swiss woman found dead at Phuket waterfall, likely raped and murdered
He moved in behind her and locked her neck and she put up a fight until she lost consciousness and fell face down into the water and died.
He spotted a plastic sheet floating down the waterfall and put it over her body to hide it with a stone put on top of her head to hold it in place.
He then searched her backpack and took the 300 baht he found in it and left.
He added that he used the money to buy drugs, drinks and repair his mobile phone.
The suspect explained that the motive for the crime was robbery because he had lost his job and did not dare ask his family for money.
He also said that when he attacked her he did not think it would lead to death and regrets what he has done and apologises to the victim’s family and all Thai people.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Composite image with a pixelated head shot of the suspect, right, and riding his motorcycle, left. Thai headline says, “apologises to the family of the deceased and all Thai people.”
Home Page: Senior police officers and Phuket’s officials at today’s press conference. Both photos: Sanook.com
