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Thai murder victim's last hours Thai murder victim's final hours
(20 minutes later)
The best friend of a student murdered while they were travelling in Thailand has told an inquest of the last time she saw her alive.The best friend of a student murdered while they were travelling in Thailand has told an inquest of the last time she saw her alive.
Ruth Adams said Katherine Horton, 21, "wandered off" down a beach on the island of Koh Samui with her phone on the evening of New Year's Day 2006.Ruth Adams said Katherine Horton, 21, "wandered off" down a beach on the island of Koh Samui with her phone on the evening of New Year's Day 2006.
Reading University student Ms Horton, of Cardiff, was raped and killed by two fishermen now serving life sentences.Reading University student Ms Horton, of Cardiff, was raped and killed by two fishermen now serving life sentences.
A verdict of unlawful killing was recorded at the inquest in Cardiff.A verdict of unlawful killing was recorded at the inquest in Cardiff.
Ms Adams said they had decided to go to Thailand for two weeks at the end of 2005 as they planned to travel together when they finished university. Coroner Mary Hassell told Ms Horton's mother Elizabeth: "I wish I could find some words of comfort to you.
They had met at university where they were both studying psychology and "just connected". Her friend was "bubbly and easy to get to know". "I think that Katherine did lose consciousness quickly and it seems she may have been quite unaware of what took place after she lost consciousness."
She said "We wanted to see the beaches and elephants, go swimming in waterfalls and chill out a bit more."
They spent New Year's Eve and New Year's Day together and made friends with some Scottish and Australian boys.
I didn't get any help from the British Embassy. I only saw them for five minutes Ruth Adams, friendI didn't get any help from the British Embassy. I only saw them for five minutes Ruth Adams, friend
On 1 January, they went for a meal with two of the Scottish boys, before going back to sit outside their beach hut and the two Australian boys also joined them. Ms Adams said they had decided to go to Thailand as they planned to travel together when they finished university, where they were studying psychology.
She said they "just connected," and her friend was "bubbly and easy to get to know".
She said: "We wanted to see the beaches and elephants, go swimming in waterfalls and chill out a bit more."
On 1 January, they went for a meal with two Scottish boys they had befriended, before going back to sit outside their beach hut and two Australian boys they had met also joined them.
Ms Adams said: "We were trying to decide what to do that evening. The boys wanted to go into town but Katherine was quite tired and I wasn't fussed.Ms Adams said: "We were trying to decide what to do that evening. The boys wanted to go into town but Katherine was quite tired and I wasn't fussed.
'Disappeared from view''Disappeared from view'
"Katherine went into the hut and turned on her phone and while we were chatting, she just wandered off down the beach a little bit."Katherine went into the hut and turned on her phone and while we were chatting, she just wandered off down the beach a little bit.
"She was holding her phone like she was about to use it.""She was holding her phone like she was about to use it."
Ms Adams said: "I could then see her looking like she was talking on the phone and paddling in the sea."Ms Adams said: "I could then see her looking like she was talking on the phone and paddling in the sea."
The murder was on the beach where the student was staying At that point Ms Horton was between 20 and 30 yards away from her. She was walking along the beach, and then she disappeared from view. Ms Horton was between 20 and 30 yards away from her, and then she disappeared from view.
Mrs Horton wishes Katherine to be remembered for the bright, bubbly and articulate girl she was rather than the girl who was killed in Thailand Det Con Ian Bourne
Friends asked Ms Adams if she wanted to go into town with them, but she refused, and after 10 minutes, she began looking for Ms Horton.Friends asked Ms Adams if she wanted to go into town with them, but she refused, and after 10 minutes, she began looking for Ms Horton.
She told the court: "I walked down the beach shouting her name on the path she would have walked, close to the sea."She told the court: "I walked down the beach shouting her name on the path she would have walked, close to the sea."
Ms Adams kept walking up and down the beach, calling her friend's name, until 11pm. She then returned to their hut, leaving a note for her on the door. Ms Adams kept walking up and down the beach, calling her friend's name, until 11pm before returning to their hut, leaving a note for her on the door.
When she woke up between 6.30am and 7am the next day, she was struck with the realisation her friend had not returned. Outside the hut, she saw the note and also her friend's trainers had gone.When she woke up between 6.30am and 7am the next day, she was struck with the realisation her friend had not returned. Outside the hut, she saw the note and also her friend's trainers had gone.
She said she spent the next day searching for her friend, as she had been told she could not report her missing for 24 hours. She spent the next day searching, as she had been told she could not report her missing for 24 hours.
It sounds like it was horrific Cardiff coroner Mary Hassell to Ruth Adams When she reported the disappearance at about 3pm she was questioned and it was there that she was told that her body had been found.
When she reported the disappearance to police at about 3pm she was questioned and it was there that she was told that her body had been found.
When asked by Ms Hassell if she had received assistance in Thailand, Ms Adams said she had not.When asked by Ms Hassell if she had received assistance in Thailand, Ms Adams said she had not.
The two killers had their death sentences commuted to life in jail"I didn't get any help from the British Embassy," she said. "I only saw them for five minutes."The two killers had their death sentences commuted to life in jail"I didn't get any help from the British Embassy," she said. "I only saw them for five minutes."
She said she was told she wouldn't be able to fly home for a month, and that she would not be given a translator.She said she was told she wouldn't be able to fly home for a month, and that she would not be given a translator.
When she tried to leave on 5 January, police called her in for questioning and told her she wouldn't be able to leave without going through a Thai court. When she tried to leave on 5 January, police called her in for questioning and told her she could not leave without going through a Thai court.
Ms Adams, who had not slept for four days at this point, said while she was at the airport, her boarding pass, camera and phone were taken by Thai police.Ms Adams, who had not slept for four days at this point, said while she was at the airport, her boarding pass, camera and phone were taken by Thai police.
She said: "I later found out they had taken copies of pictures and sold them to the press. I didn't submit any pictures."She said: "I later found out they had taken copies of pictures and sold them to the press. I didn't submit any pictures."
Ms Adams nodded in agreement when Ms Hassell said: "It sounds like it was horrific."Ms Adams nodded in agreement when Ms Hassell said: "It sounds like it was horrific."
Two fishermen, Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, and Bualoi Posit, 23, were condemned to death, but their sentences were commuted to life in jail after appeal.Two fishermen, Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, and Bualoi Posit, 23, were condemned to death, but their sentences were commuted to life in jail after appeal.
After the inquest, Det Con Ian Bourne said: "I would like to pay tribute to Katherine's family who have shown great dignity and courage through very difficult circumstances.
"Mrs Horton wishes Katherine to be remembered for the bright, bubbly and articulate girl she was rather than the girl who was killed in Thailand."