New inquiry into backpacker murder

Nearly 18 months on, Ms Jones's killer remains at large

Hours after UK detectives revealed new forensic evidence, it has been announced that the inquiry into the murder of backpacker Kirsty Jones is to be reopened by the Royal Thai Police

After meeting in Bangkok with two detectives from Dyfed-Powys Police who had flown over with new forensic evidence, the Thai force announced that the case was to be handed over to a new team of detectives.

Murder scene evidence has been DNA tested

The 23-year-old farmer's daughter from Tredomen in mid Wales, was raped and strangled at the £1-a-night Aree guesthouse in Chiang Mai in August 2000.

The handling of the initial investigation into her death by police in Thailand was widely criticised and UK officers became involved in the hunt for her killer a few months later.

Ms Jones, a Liverpool University graduate, had been travelling alone and was just a few months into a two-year round-world trip.

The inquiry by officers in Chiang Mai was branded a shambles after journalists and junior policemen were allowed to trample over the murder scene contaminating forensic evidence.

But there were hopes that items of clothing and bedding from the hostel room rescued and brought back to the UK, would yield vital DNA evidence.

Ms Jones had been staying at the Aree hostel

The outcome of those tests still remain unknown.

Speaking on Tuesday, an British Embassy source in Bangkok said: "We can only remain hopeful.

"If Thai police today take what they have been told on board there is a hope for a successful conclusion to the investigation."

A spokesman for the Royal Thai Police last night confirmed the meeting with Welsh detectives but declined to comment on the outcome.

"We are as anxious as the British police to solve the problem," he said.

In the initial investigations into her death, Thai police arrested the hostel owner Andrew Gill, 33, after releasing a number of other suspects.

New evidence

He was originally questioned over passport irregularities.

But the former ski instructor from Lewisham in south London, vehemently denied the accusation and was later released without charge.

DNA tests on 11 suspects also ruled them out of involvement in the attack.

While no immediate arrests were expected as a result of the new evidence, Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Terry Grange had said the information may help.

"Certainly the DNA exists and it would guide the Royal Thai Police in specific directions," he said.

"It won't take them directly to an arrest but it could do in due course."