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Missing Eddie Gibson 'murdered for money' in Cambodia | Missing Eddie Gibson 'murdered for money' in Cambodia |
(35 minutes later) | |
The parents of a Sussex backpacker who went missing in Cambodia nine years ago say they are now convinced their son was murdered for his money. | The parents of a Sussex backpacker who went missing in Cambodia nine years ago say they are now convinced their son was murdered for his money. |
Eddie Gibson, 19, of Hove, went missing on 24 October 2004, a week before he was due to fly back to Britain. | Eddie Gibson, 19, of Hove, went missing on 24 October 2004, a week before he was due to fly back to Britain. |
His family say they have evidence that he was robbed and killed in Poipet, on the border with Thailand. | |
"The news that he was murdered in this way has been a tremendous shock to the family," said his father Mike. | "The news that he was murdered in this way has been a tremendous shock to the family," said his father Mike. |
Eddie was three weeks into a combined Asian and Pacific studies and international management course at Leeds University when he decided to travel to South East Asia. | Eddie was three weeks into a combined Asian and Pacific studies and international management course at Leeds University when he decided to travel to South East Asia. |
Movements unknown | Movements unknown |
Two weeks into his trip his mother Jo received an email telling her he would be flying home from Thailand a week later - but he never arrived. | |
Four officers from the Sussex Police major crime branch unit spent 10 days in Phnom Penh, working alongside the national police, but Eddie's movements remained unknown. | Four officers from the Sussex Police major crime branch unit spent 10 days in Phnom Penh, working alongside the national police, but Eddie's movements remained unknown. |
His parents visited the country numerous times and engaged private investigators. | His parents visited the country numerous times and engaged private investigators. |
Mr Gibson said the new information came from a businessman with a military background in South East Asia who the family met through a charity set up in Eddie's name. | |
He said it was believed Eddie was bludgeoned to death with a shovel and robbed of £2,000 to £3,000 cash he had on him. | He said it was believed Eddie was bludgeoned to death with a shovel and robbed of £2,000 to £3,000 cash he had on him. |
'Pretty well ambushed' | 'Pretty well ambushed' |
"The information this man had dovetailed into the information we had so we are as sure as we can be that it is correct," said Mr Gibson. | "The information this man had dovetailed into the information we had so we are as sure as we can be that it is correct," said Mr Gibson. |
"The authorities in Cambodia have limited resources and I suppose we are lucky in a way that we met this man. At least we now know what has happened to Eddie. | "The authorities in Cambodia have limited resources and I suppose we are lucky in a way that we met this man. At least we now know what has happened to Eddie. |
"The border at Poipet is a difficult area and I think he was pretty well ambushed up there." | "The border at Poipet is a difficult area and I think he was pretty well ambushed up there." |
He said the family were going through a grieving process because, even though they knew the chances of Eddie being alive were very slim, nothing had prepared them for the news of his killing. | |
"It has been more shocking than we could imagine," he said. | "It has been more shocking than we could imagine," he said. |
"We will have the process of declaring Eddie dead and we want to have a memorial service for him. | "We will have the process of declaring Eddie dead and we want to have a memorial service for him. |
"We will then revisit the charity to see how best we can either continue with it or use the funds in his name." | "We will then revisit the charity to see how best we can either continue with it or use the funds in his name." |
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