Amnesty slams death sentence call

BANGKOK (The Nation): Amnesty International Thailand (AIT) yesterday supported the mother of murdered British student Katherine Horton, who has said she does not want to see her daughter’s killers executed.

The alleged killers, Bualoi Kosit, 23, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, who are due to be sentenced tomorrow at Surat Thani Provincial Court, face the possibility of execution for raping and murdering Ms Horton on January 1.

But the victim’s mother, Elizabeth Horton, has said she opposes the death penalty. “I’ve never believed in the death penalty, but I believe life means life,” Britain’s News of the World newspaper quoted her as saying. “A life sentence would be appropriate.”

AIT praised Mrs Horton for her magnanimity and urged Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra – who has called for the death penalty in this case – to learn the virtues of forgiveness from Mrs Horton.

“Elizabeth Horton does not agree with the prime minister,” the group’s statement read. “Her call for life sentences is conciliatory justice that we hope the prime minister and Thai society will adopt in dealing with the case.”