The father of Lee Del Pinto, 25, told the Canadian Press he was finally getting justice on hearing that the Thai policeman accused of murdering his son had pleaded guilty.
The Canadian tourist, 25, died after being shot in the face and chest in Pai in January 2008. His friend, Carly Reisig of British Columbia, was also hit once in the chest but survived.
Pol Sgt Uthai Dechawiwat, who was off duty at the time, was charged with murder and attempted murder, but initially pleaded not guilty.
Uthai had already been sentenced in 2011 to 25 years in jail for beating his pregnant wife to death.
The father confirmed that he had received an email informing him there was a court hearing scheduled for July 2, but later he was told that Uthai had changed his plea to guilty on all counts.
That brings some closure to the family in Canada, but will raise the question as to why a high profile murder trial involving a foreign national had dragged out for five years to finally conclude with a change of plea.
There have been calls by the tourism industry to introduce fast track justice for crimes involving tourists, but the proposed tourism courts that are supposed to be set up in popular tourist destinations will cover only petty crimes and spams.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the department had been informed of a development in the case. The reason for the change in plea was not immediately known.
Mr Del Pinto said he and his wife Clara will leave Calgary next Thursday (August 15) to attend the official verdict and sentencing on August 20 in Chiang Mai.
It will be the first time they have visited Thailand since his son’s death. Mr Del Pinto said they intend to visit the spot in Pai where he died, to try to come to terms with what happened.
“It’s put me through hell for five years. I’m lost without my kid... it was a senseless death... (although) he saved a young girl. It’s just so frustrating.”
Pai is a popular cool season destination for young Thai travellers who dress in chic branded winter clothes bought from expensive shopping malls in Bangkok for a stroll through the town’s night market, in temperatures that can drop to single digits on winter nights.
Today Pai is also packed with international tourists, who go to the valley to enjoy trekking, white-water rafting, elephant rides and visits to hill-tribe villages.
But like many tourist destinations that expand at a meteoric pace, security and safety in Pai have suffered.