Thai police officer pleads guilty to murder of Calgary tourist

CALGARY- The Thai police officer charged in the death of a Calgary man has pleaded guilty to murder.

24-year-old Leo Del Pinto was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer on January 6, 2008, while backpacking in Pai, Thailand.

Initial reports suggested that Del Pinto was arguing with his travel companion—a woman named Carly Reisig, from B.C.—outside of a bar, resulting in a scuffle with police officers. Both Del Pinto and Reisig were shot, but Reisig survived.

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The officer who shot Del Pinto maintained it was self-defence, but evidence revealed there appeared to be a deliberate cover-up. The head of the police department was accused of persuading witnesses to say that his officer was being threatened.

Sgt. Uthai Dechawiwat initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea in a Chiang Mai courtroom. He is already serving a 25 year prison sentence for murdering his pregnant wife just weeks after they were married.

Del Pinto’s parents will be heading to Thailand for the trial.