I didn’t kill them

One of the two young men charged over the bodies in the Adelaide River murder denied in evidence yesterday having any part in killing the two Thai-born prostitutes.

Ben William McLean said he was not with the women when they were killed, he did not kill them and did not help in killing them.

He told of some Asian men, who argued with his co-accused Phu Ngoc Trinh at the farm where the two accused men worked.

They arrived after the pair had consensual sex with the women and Phu drove off in the direction of the river with the women in the van, leaving McLean at the side of the road.

Phu returned about four hours later and seemed to have something on his mind – “not his usual cheerful self”.

McLean’s denial came after the jury heard an interview with Queensland police during which he admitted helping Trinh.

Asked by his counsel Suzan Cox QC if he told police the truth in that interview, McLean replied: “Bits of it.”

Suggestions of “organised Asian crime” involvement came during cross examination of the officer-in-charge of the case Detective Sergeant Greg Lade by Trinh’s counsel Colin McDonald QC.

McLean and Trinh, both 19, are each charged with the murder of Phuangsri Kroksamrong, 58, and Somjai Insamnan, 27, on March 1 last year.

Much of the record of interview with Sgt Lade and a Queensland detective in Brisbane was taken up with McLean’s story of being in trouble with the Hells Angels motorbike gang over “speed”, which he has since admitted was not true.

McLean confirmed Trinh brought the women to the farm and that he was “shy” as it was the first time he’d had sex with a prostitute.

McLean is due to continue his evidence when the trial resumes before Justice Dean Mildren on Monday.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sat, 5th March 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Bob Watt
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News