NT: Two teens confess to killing two Thai prositutes: court

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2004
NT: Two teens confess to killing two Thai prositutes: court

By Karen Michelmore

DARWIN, Aug 3 AAP - Two teenagers admitted killing two Darwin sex workers, who were
thrown bound and alive into a crocodile-infested Northern Territory river, a court was
told today.

Ben William McLean and Phu Ngoc Trinh, both 18, are charged with murdering 58-year-old
Thai-born Phuangsri Kroksamrang, also known as Poncee, and Somjai Insamnan, 27.

Darwin Magistrates Court was today told the clothed, floating bodies of both women
were found by two separate crocodile-spotting tour operators at the Adelaide River, a
popular tourist spot 70km south-east of Darwin, in March.

They had been weighed down with car batteries and thrown separately into the river
with red rope around their necks, the court was told.

Director of Public Prosecutions Rex Wild, QC, said both teenagers later confessed the
killing to police, although Trinh claimed the two women were already dead when they were
thrown into the river.

"The cause of death in both cases appeared to be drowning, which indicated that both
women were alive when they went over," Mr Wild told a committal hearing into the case.

"Maybe they were unconscious, we have to speculate about that."

Trinh and McLean were friends who were living and working on Trinh's family farm at
Marrakai, near the river, while his parents were on holiday in Vietnam, the court was
told.

Mr Wild said Trinh had purchased zip ties, rope and packing tape before picking up
the two women from the Palms Motel in Darwin, where they were working as prostitutes,
on the afternoon of Monday March 1.

The teenagers had consensual sex with the women before killing them, with used condoms
later found at the family farm, Mr Wild said.

"The evidence suggests that Trinh had sexual intercourse with both of them, whereas
McLean had sex with the younger one (known as) Noy," he said.

Mr Wild said Trinh told police he carried out the killings by himself, but McLean separately
said they were together at the time. McLean said he had driven the car to the bridge while
Trinh strangled the women in the back of the vehicle, Mr Wild said.

"Trinh gives no specific reasons for the killing," Mr Wild said.

"McLean claimed it was to satisfy a drug debt that he had.

"The prosecution does not accept that explanation."

Mr Wild said someone later withdrew a total of $1,800 from Poncee's bank accounts in
three separate transactions, but it was unclear if she was already dead at the time of
the transactions.

The two friends fled to Queensland after being questioned by police, and were later
discovered hiding in the bedroom cupboard of a friend's house during a midnight police
raid in Queensland.

The hearing, before Magistrate Hugh Bradley, continues tomorrow.

Neither Trinh or McLean, who are in custody, have been required to enter a plea.

AAP km/tma/bwl

KEYWORD: MCLEAN

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