The provincial court in Hua Hin yesterday sentenced the four drunk Thais who attacked a British family on vacation during Songkran to two years in jail.
The court has ruled that Rosemary Owen, 65, her husband Lewis Owen, 68, along with their son, Lewis, 43, were assaulted by Chaiya Jaiboon, 20, Supatta Baithong, 32, Yingyai Saengkam-in, 32, and Siva Noksri, 20, in the seaside resort town of Hua Hin.
The vicious attack, which happened on April 13, left all three Owen family members unconscious as a video of the attack received international attention. The three were hospitalized while Rosemary suffered the most injuries and had to undergo several operations to help reduce swelling on the brain.
The son, Lewis, a graphic designer who lives in Singapore, needed sixteen stitches in three areas of his head while his dad needed six stitches in his forehead and suffered heavy bruising and two black eyes.
The assault began when the son, Lewis, bumped into one of the Thai men and his mother tried to talk to them. People that were watching the incident report that the Thai men seemed to be looking for a fight. Supatta was reportedly seen harassing other people before the Owens arrived. He was walking around the area while holding a bottleม according to Asia One.
Since the four attackers pled guilty to the assault and to causing harm to Thailand’s international reputation, their jail terms were cut in half. The four men also apologized for the incident.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand was planning to tell the victims about the ruling, according to The Nation.
The Owens family had been visiting Thailand regularly for 20 years but have said that they won’t return after the incident.
Related:
Elderly couple describe brutal attack to court in Hua Hin
British family beaten unconscious after on ‘bumped into Thai’
British family brutally attacked in Hua Hin (VIDEO)
