Thai men plead guilty to killing Australian travel agent

THE killers of Perth travel agent Michelle Smith planned their night of crime hours in advance.

Surin Taptong, 37, stole a motorbike from the tyre repair shop on Phuket island, where he had worked for about a month. He picked up his friend Surasak ''Boy'' Suwannachot, 26, who had been released from a Bangkok jail a few days earlier.

They went to a bar that sells strong home-made distilled alcohol. There is no evidence how much the two men consumed before they got back on the motorcycle and headed to Kata Noi Beach, Phuket Central Court heard yesterday.

Surasak was giving the directions. Shortly after 10pm he spotted Ms Smith, a 60-year-old Perth travel agent and mother of three, walking along a road towards the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort with another travel agent, Tammee Lynn, 42. They had been out to dinner and were returning to the hotel.

The court heard that while still on the back of the motorcycle, Surasak tried to grab Ms Smith's handbag. She refused to let go. Police told the court security camera footage showed that Surasak got off the bike and fatally stabbed Ms Smith three times. Ms Lynn was also stabbed and received stitches.

Yesterday, neither man showed any remorse when they were led into court, barefoot with their heads shaven and wearing leg irons.

Surasak admitted the stabbing after a judge told him the evidence against him was overwhelming. He knew that if he pleaded not guilty and was found guilty he would face execution.

''Yes, I did it,'' he said.

At first, Surin told the court he had not seen the stabbings and was waiting 20 metres away on the motorcycle, looking in the other direction. ''I don't know … I don't know,'' he said.