Thai murder police conspiracy theory

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

Detectives in Thailand are investigating speculation that there was a conspiracy to murder a backpacker from mid Wales.

The development in the 17-month-old inquiry into the rape and strangulation of Kirsty Jones, 23, from Tredomen near Brecon, was raised as two officers from the Dyfed-Powys Police flew home from Thailand on Monday.

They had visited Bangkok to hand over new forensic evidence to the Royal Thai force. Soon after it was announced the inquiry would be re-examined by a new team of detectives.

Ms Jones had been staying at the Aree hostel

But a spokesman for the Welsh force said they could not confirm claims that a Thai policeman could be linked to Ms Jones's death.

"We do not have any evidence that links the murder to a specific individual and therefore are not in a position to support any speculation as regards the occupation or identification of that person," he said.

Ms Jones's body was found on 10 August 2000, in a £10-a-night room at the Aree hostel in the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Thai police, who have faced heavy criticism over their handling of the case, originally arrested the British owner of the guesthouse, but he was later freed without charge.

On Sunday, it was suggested that DNA evidence presented by the Dyfed-Powys officers showed that the rapist was definitely Asian, and that the Royal Thai force was carrying out tests among its own officers.

"We have obliged the British request. We're doing our best," said National Police Chief Sant Saruntanond.

"I have...ordered Chiang Mai police to set up a new investigating team that would include officers from Bangkok.

"We will mount a new inquiry to see if there is any justification to reopen the case."

Round-the-world-trip

He conceded that there may have been a conspiracy to kill the backpacker.

"It is possible that other people may have associated to murder her," he said.

Ms Jones, a Liverpool University graduate, was just a few months into a two-year round-world trip when she was killed.

The handling of the initial investigation was widely criticised and UK officers became involved a few months later.

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 clothing and bedding from the hostel room was brought back to the UK in an attempt to discover undisturbed DNA evidence after Ms Jones's parents asked for the Welsh force's help.

Miss Jones planned to travel to Australia

In the initial investigation the owner of the guesthouse, Briton Andy Gill, was charged with her murder.

Mr Gill had discovered Ms Jones' body, but all charges against the 33-year-old were later dropped.

DNA tests ruled out a further 11 Thai suspects.