93-year-old pleads too sick to stand trial on paedophilia charges in Chiang Mai, Thailand

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'Too ill' for trial on child sex charges

Published: 18 Mar 2013 at 14.52
Online news: Crimes

A 93-year-old Australian citizen accused of multiple sex abuse of children argued in Chiang Mai court Monday that he is too sick to go on trial.

Lawyers for German-born Karl Joseph Kraus told the court their client has cancer and dementia, and should be freed rather than tried.

Mr Kraus was arrested trying to flee Thailand while on bail last year. He is charged with abusing four young Thai sisters for two years. The youngest child was five when the alleged abuse began.

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pquinlan
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Discussion 22 : 20 Mar 2013 at 12.5522
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I have never been able to understand the "too ill to stand trial" argument. This case just makes it even more stomach-churningly difficult to swallow. D15: spot on - if he is well enough to argue this position, then he is well enough to face the music.
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Robowen
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Discussion 21 : 19 Mar 2013 at 01.3921
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CMfarang in implying that this is an exclusively Thai issue may not be aware that Ronald Biggs, who was one of the "Great Train Robbers" of 1963 excaped from prison in 1965, and fled to Australia and then Brazil where he lived freely until 2001 when, in ill health, he surrendered to the UK authorities. In 2009. he was given compassionate release from prison, with claims that he was about to die, despite which he was well enough to write a second book two years later.
Surprise, surprise, he's still alive today - at the grand old age of 83.

So, NO, it doesn't just happen in Thailand.

Isn't it funny how scum always floats around the sur
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canuck
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Discussion 20 : 18 Mar 2013 at 21.2720
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Prison is a retirement home for pedophiles.
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canuck
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Discussion 19 : 18 Mar 2013 at 21.2219
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If he thinks he's to old to go to jail he should have realized the young girls where to young to have sex. Age is irrelevant to this man. He showed no sympathy to his victims why does he think others should show him any. Rot in prison then in Hell you old fool.
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canuck
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Discussion 18 : 18 Mar 2013 at 21.1418
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Old and sick enough to do the crime and still run from justice. I don't buy that.

Time to pay the piper buddy.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 17 : 18 Mar 2013 at 19.2017
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That reminds me of another convicted Chonburi mafia boss who has sons in high places. That criminal is currently living in a VIP room in a Chonburi hospital. Maybe they can transfer the pedophile to the same hospital room ...
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 16 : 18 Mar 2013 at 19.1216
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If he is too sick maybe he should be allowed to be out of jail and walk around the streets where he committed his crimes. He should wear one of these foot-cuffs know from the movies which will explode if he travels too far. And obviously he should wear bright clothes with his name and crime written all over it so that everybody knows who he is.
I guess within hour or days the problem would be solved. :)
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Robowen
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Discussion 15 : 18 Mar 2013 at 18.5415
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If he's well enough and aware enough to argue in court that he should not be tried, he's well enough to stand trial on the charges levied...

We know that he's "sick" though: the photos on his computer demonstrate that! However, that type of "sickness" is not the sort that we would regard as prejudicing his defence.

To paraphrase Arthur Miller: Hang him high over the town. Who weeps for him weeps for corruption!
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Jules
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Discussion 14 : 18 Mar 2013 at 18.3514
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Shoot him... then chapter is closed
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pete
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Discussion 13 : 18 Mar 2013 at 18.1113
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One or two pedophiles dislike these comments. Shame on you!
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93-year-old pleads too sick to stand trial on paedophilia charges in Chiang Mai, Thailand | Bangkok Post: news

'Too ill' for trial on child sex charges

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