Police handed over the case to the state prosecutor on July 20, and the prosecution case was then delivered to the Phuket Provincial Court on Friday (July 27).
The Phuket News understands that the court has been instructed to hear the case as soon as possible because of its international ramifications.
In Perth, the West Australian newspaper quoted Mrs Smith’s husband Geoff as saying that he hoped the Thai judge would deal severely with the two accused men, Surasak Wannachot, who allegedly wielded the knife, and Surin Tapthong, who allegedly drove the motorbike used in the horribly bungled robbery.
Mr Smith hoped the Thai courts would “do the right thing and give them a tough penalty – the most they can get”.
But Mr Smith was forgiving towards Phuket and Thailand in general. He said he felt sorry for Phuket, which had “copped a lot of flak” after his wife’s murder.
He added that his experiences with Thais had led him to believe they were “lovely people”.