Aussie found hanged in Patong police cell

Aussie found hanged in Patong police cell

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong has assured that police are investigating the death of a 31-year-old Australian man in a detention cell at Patong Police Station yesterday (Apr 24).

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By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 25 April 2023, 01:00PM

Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Initial reports named the man as Matthew Michael Winder, 30*.

Mr Winder was taken into custody for being drunk and disorderly early yesterday morning, police confirmed.

Reports differ as to whether he was taken into custody at a bar on Bangla Rd, or in front of the place where he was staying on the Patong beach road.

Mr Winder was being held in a detention cell on the second floor of the police station. The officer on duty went for lunch at about 11:30am yesterday, and returned to find Mr Winder hanged by his shirt tied to the iron bars, police explained.

Mr Winder was alone in the cell at the time of his death, police said.

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The Australian embassy has been notified of Mr Winder’s death, officers confirmed.

Mr Winder’s body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town for post-mortem examination.

Police have yet to release any further details regarding Mr Winder’s death.

*Not Michael Matthew Winder, 31, as reported previously.

DeKaaskopp | 28 April 2023 - 13:42:32

Not sure Kakka what you took before writing that comment but it's quite weird and I only can take a guess what you are trying to say. But at least I can assure you that I 'm living a happy life. Then and now.

Kakka2 | 28 April 2023 - 10:24:14

@Kurt, this Dek guy is gone and clearly as some inferiority issue..seems he cum to tell the people off somehow..perhaps he did not had a happy life and trying to make up

Kurt | 28 April 2023 - 01:07:01

Dek seems not to understand the hand up holding of this police captain is less about seeing a body in white sheet, but more why that body was leaving the patong police station, as when mr Winder was alive in Patong cell holdings police was responsible for his well being. That captain's hand is plain showing what is wrong with RTP rat hole station Patong, even after a 5 colonels transfer.

DeKaaskopp | 27 April 2023 - 15:46:11

7 years ?  In the kitchen or at the laundry ?

Pascale | 27 April 2023 - 11:53:38

@Kurt  There is a difference between living here long enough and living here to long. Where did I say I would understand everything ? I am not a megalomaniac like you who always pretend to be an expert on everything .And if one cannot see that the younger generation starts to question authorities (street protests), then they should take of their blinkers.

Pascale | 27 April 2023 - 10:07:07

No need to get taught anything from old people who live here definitely to long and became just grumpy old men moaning about everything. And as always some reader know the truth without being a witness. Idiots !

Kurt | 27 April 2023 - 09:41:44

Funny reaction of Pascale. He lives here long enough to understand everything, and mr JohnC lives here to long to understand things?  Must be a Pascale joke. Is it possible Pascale and Dek are the same person?

Jonty369 | 27 April 2023 - 07:17:37

I have lived here long enough to know and experience the police extort tourist for money, the police are a mafia and will kill you if you cause them trouble. This man didn't commit suicide intentionally. He had a young family. The police tried to extort money from him, then maybe planted drugs as a threat and maybe went down hill from there. Unfortunately the Australian Consulate is weak as pi...

Jonty369 | 27 April 2023 - 06:42:14

I worked in a prison for 7 years and not one suicide. But this wasn't prison it was in the police cells and hangings should almost be impossible. This is 100% suspicion. First they say he use drawstrings from pants then a shirt. The price of a life for a tourist is worth nothing to these police murderers. They police say there is CCTV footage then show it. Thai police are criminal scum.

Prab | 26 April 2023 - 18:13:34

no one ask question and especially our great free press in the this country could not care the less.. just keep writing of whatever story ( rubbish ) they get told and never ever ask any hard question...this is the way to live and keep enjoying life in this jungle...

Old guy | 26 April 2023 - 18:12:06

Thanks John C for trying to help educate those with their heads buried in the sand (Pascale). His comments always ignore what a comment means because he, too, was never taught to think and ask questions.

Kamala Pete | 26 April 2023 - 12:01:42

Caught on video - but its first reported that he used the "rope" from his pants, then that report is changed to say he used his T shirt. Definitely something fishy going on.

Pascale | 26 April 2023 - 11:31:11

@JohnC   I live here long enough to see that especially the younger generation is questioning authorities more and more.Maybe you live here already to long if you can't see that.

Pascale | 26 April 2023 - 11:24:23

'..needs a international world class investigation'  Hahaha ! Right Kurt, The Hague is calling ! Looks like you start overheating.5 comments from the middle of the night until now. Open the aircon and try to cool down. In the meantime ask yourself how many suicides happened in prisons in your home country in the last couple of years.

Kurt | 26 April 2023 - 10:20:44

... specialliy that of a foreigner has no value. But still ...more respect for a human life in Thailand is needed.

Kurt | 26 April 2023 - 10:18:16

That a foreign tourist dies,  (policeman on duty goes out for lunch!) while unattended in Patong police cel on Phuket, a world class tourist destination, needs a international world class investigation. This may not become ajust by passing happening. Patong police officers much be punished. They have a human life on their conscience! Yes, yes, I know that in Thai philosophy a life, specially that

DeKaaskopp | 26 April 2023 - 10:17:29

@Kurt   You calling that policeman an idiot because he stops a photographer from getting near the ambulance to take picture of the deceased ? And you call that "cover up behaviour"  Would you like to see a close up from the dead body ?  I wonder who's the real idiot here.

Kurt | 26 April 2023 - 10:05:46

.... were enforcing law has no priority. Why was Mr Winder at 11:30 am still in police cel, and not sent away with a warning/fine or pushed to pay a 'administration fee' without reçu?

Kurt | 26 April 2023 - 09:59:46

'Taken into custody for being drunk and disorderly'? Never read about a tuk tuk driver who brandish a wrench or club on tourists to be found 'disorderly' and be detained in Patong police cel. Patong station time after time negative in news. 5 Colonels kicked out, now a cel floor unattended. That station is a rat hole. More a private uniformed administration were enforcing law has n...

JohnC | 26 April 2023 - 09:36:45

Young Aussies are often drunk and disorderly but not prone to be suicidal and hang themselves over such a trivial matter. He would have been let out that day with a warning or small fine so why end it all?

JohnC | 26 April 2023 - 09:30:38

@Pascale. You haven't been here very long if you think that what old man says is false news. Thais are taught to look the other way and don't get involved or ask what is going on. Just like they are taught to cowtow to those richer and higher up social standing. Just like they don't want to make decisions and want their bosses to make them or somebody else to take the blame if somethin...

Kurt | 26 April 2023 - 02:45:20

The officer on duty went for lunch at 11:30 am. How is such possible/allowed? This is criminal. There must be always any time a officer on duty at detention floor. In case of fire, or a person in detention becomes unwell/try to commit suicide, as we see here. That police captain with his hand in front of camera. What a idiot. Typical thai instinctive 'cover-up' behavior.

Old guy | 25 April 2023 - 23:34:02

WHAT? Now they don't know who the dead man is in addition to not knowing where he was taken into custody or why the jail was left untended when jailor went to lunch?
Does anyone there really know what they're doing?
Starting to sound very suspicious.

Pascale | 25 April 2023 - 18:56:52

"Thais are taught to not ask why"  C'mon old man. Nothing better to do than to come up with such stupid false sayings ? And their have never been any suicides in prisons in your country ? You really start to losing it .

Old guy | 25 April 2023 - 14:10:51

Thais are taught to not ask why. 

Why don't authorities know where he was taken into custody? 

Why was the jail untended when jailor went to lunch?

Does anyone there really know what they're doing?