THAILAND DEATH FAMILY NEARS CLOSURE

Fishermen found the body of Malcolm Robertson 10 nautical miles north of Satun's Lipeh Island a week after he was attacked by pirates who boarded his vessel.

It is believed businessman Mr Robertson, 64, from Hastings, East Sussex, was bludgeoned to death with a hammer and thrown overboard off the Andaman sea coast as he sailed with wife Linda.

The couple's four grown-up children, two each from previous marriages, flew to Thailand to support Mrs Robertson as intensive efforts by the Thai authorities were made to find his body.

The family had to endure several false reports of his body being found before official confirmation came that fishermen had discovered Mr Robertson in the sea.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman confirmed the body was that of Mr Robertson and that an embassy team was with his family and was providing consular support.

The find raises the prospect of Thai police laying further charges against three migrant workers from neighbouring Burma who were arrested on a raft about half a mile from the couple's 44ft yacht.

Thai police said the trio, aged 19, 18 and 17, confessed to the killing but were only charged with kidnap, assault and theft. The Thai authorities said they could not bring murder charges until Mr Robertson's body had been found.

Mrs Robertson's brother, John Clee, 63, said the family felt a sense of relief as it had been their greatest fear that his body would never be found.

He said that 57-year-old Mrs Robertson, who escaped with minor injuries, was feeling "totally drained" after being told the news.