Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
March 27, 2009
THE men who killed a talented Edinburgh musician and composer in Thailand are set to face the death penalty for their horrific crime.
David Crisp, 56, was found stabbed and beaten at his home in the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai earlier this year.
Two men have confessed to the killing and are currently being held in a Thai prison.
A third is still at large and is believed to be hiding in Burma.
Today, Mr Crisp's family said they had been told that, because the murder was pre-meditated, the men would likely be sentenced to death, which in Thailand would be by lethal injection.
Susan Crisp, sister-in-law of the former Lasswade High music teacher, said: "The death penalty is completely justified for a pre-meditated killing.
"David invited them into his home and even gave them a meal, and they abused his hospitality by robbing and murdering him.
"We'll never forgive these men for murdering David. Not only have they taken away a good man, they've robbed the world of his music."
She added: "The Thai police suspect that three men carried out the murder, but they've only arrested two and these men have confessed."
Police say Mr Crisp, who was discovered dead on January 22, was murdered for the equivalent of GBP 100 and a few personal belongings, such as an electronic keyboard, after he upset his house guests by complaining about their dirty habits.
At an earlier press conference in Chiang Mai, 22-year-old Awe Ye Piang, a member of the Akha hill tribe, whose villages straddle the Burma, Thailand and Laos borders, was paraded before the media.
Police said he had confessed to carrying out the murders with two members of the Shan hill tribe, nicknamed Jack and John.
Police captain Phanudet Booruang said officers had tracked down Piang, who had fled to Burma, with the help of border police officers. He was arrested as he crossed the border back into Thailand.
News of Mr Crisp's horrific murder shocked friends, family, and former pupils in the Lothians.
Some of his compositions will be played at a special tribute concert to be held at Canongate Church on June 21.
He was a founder member and long-serving musical director of Edinburgh's Open Orchestra, and his pieces included a musical tribute to the temple at Doi Suthep, one of his favourite locations in Thailand.
His music was also played at the Kirking of the Scottish Parliament in 2003.
Mr Crisp moved to Thailand two years ago and founded a small choir and madrigal group, the Spirit House Singers, whose concerts raised money for local charities before he was murdered on January 19.
His brother Andy said: "The Open Orchestra conductor has been in regular contact about the pieces we'd like to put in, but the final programme is not yet set, and we've not arranged a time for the concert at this stage."
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed that it was being kept updated on the progress of the case, but said sentencing was a matter for the local authorities.
He added: "Local police are investigating and we understand that two people have been arrested."
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