Mystery suicide identified

PHUKET CITY: The British Embassy in Bangkok has confirmed that the body of a man who committed suicide at the Phuket Merlin Hotel on June 18 is that of British national Lyndon John Pedley, 44, of Liverpool, England.

Mr Pedley, who apparently swallowed a large number of antihistamine and tranquilizer pills in order to end his own life, was initially identified from the hotel register as Terrance Hicks of New Zealand.

The New Zealand Embassy, however, was unable to find any record of a citizen with that name, and contacted other embassies. The man’s true identity was revealed after his description and other information matched up with information received by the British Embassy in Bangkok.

Mr Pedley’s brother, Alan, had told the British Embassy that he had received his brother’s British passport, along with a letter indicating that he intended to commit suicide. He added that his brother had been living in Thailand under an assumed name “for some time”.

A letter issued by the British Embassy to Pol Lt Thivakorn Kongpeth of the Phuket City Police stated: “Following investigations by both the New Zealand and British [embassies in] Bangkok, we are satisfied that Terence [Terrance] Hicks and Lyndon John Pedley are the same person.”

The letter also requested that police release Mr Pedley’s body for cremation in Bangkok.

Lt Thivakorn told the Gazette that he appreciated all the kind work done by the New Zealand Embassy to help identify the man.

“We believe that he changed his name during his stay at in Phuket because he didn’t want anybody to know who he was or where he came from. He probably just wanted to take leave of this world quietly,” he said.