UK student found dead on Samui
SAMUI: The policeman in charge of the investigation into the death of British tourist Catherine Horton suspects foul play may be responsible, but said that a preliminary police examination of the body revealed no signs of assault or rape.
Pol Maj Thanongsak Aksornsom of the Samui District Police told the Gazette that Miss Horton ‘s body, in a black dress, was found floating in shallow water off Lamai Beach at about 10 am yesterday by a jet-ski rental operator.
The Cardiff, Wales, native, a 21-year-old student at the University of Reading, was on holiday on Samui with a friend. The pair arrived in Thailand on December 27 and reached Koh Samui on December 31, in time to celebrate New Year’s Eve there.
As her friend returned to their shared bungalow late on the evening of January 1, Miss Horton took a late-night stroll along Lamai Beach. Her body was found the next morning.
Police are questioning people in the area, but have not identified any suspects, Maj Thanongsak said.
From the shoreline location of the recovered body police assume that death was the result of an accident or an attack on the beach, he added.
Miss Horton’s body will be sent to the Royal Thai Police Office of Forensic Science in Bangkok for further examination to try and determine the exact cause of death, he said.
Maj Thanongsak declined to comment on a news report on a Thai-language TV station stating that Miss Horton had been raped and murdered.
