Detectives return to Thailand

Senior Detectives from Dyfed Powys Police are meeting with officials from the Thai Authorities in Chiang Mai next week to discuss the progress being made in the investigation into the murder of Kirsty Jones, a student from Brecon that took place in August 2000.

With the support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Interpol, Dyfed Powys Police have continued to support the investigation in an effort to bring it to a successful conclusion.

Chief Constable Ian Arundale said, “The Thai Authorities are aware of our commitment to discover the truth and secure justice for Kirsty and the Jones family. Senior officers are still firmly of the view that this is a case which can be brought to a successful conclusion.

“It is an unusual case and we feel that even almost twelve years later, we can provide assistance to the police in Thailand to help catch the offender.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Wilkins, lead officer on the case from Dyfed Powys added, “We are attending a meeting next week (w/c February 20th) with the Thai Authorities to discuss the current position of the investigation as well as their main lines of enquiry, in particular the forensic evidence. I believe the DNA profile that they have should be the focus of the investigation, and we are willing to assist them in interpreting its value.

“We think that the answers to this case rest in Thailand, in particular in Chiang Mai. Back in October 2010 we responded to a Letter of Request from Thai Attorney General. We are still waiting for responses to some issues that we raised relating to the work that we carried out. This work included the re-interviewing of a number of witnesses who are now residents in the UK as well as cross boarder collaboration with the Scottish Crown Office and other Police forces and agencies. We also traced a number of witnesses living in Thailand and one living in India.”

Detectives travel to Thailand on the weekend and Dyfed Powys Police remain hopeful that the case can be solved and that the offender can be brought to justice.