NZ man free to go after helping in murder case

The New Zealander caught up in the murder investigation of a 21-year-old British woman in Thailand had his passport returned last night after a formal court appearance on the island of Koh Samui.

Waikato-born Richard Haskell, 22, one of the last people to see Katherine Horton alive, had been kept on call by Thai police for the past six days.

On New Year's Day Ms Horton and a girlfriend called Ruth had just joined Mr Haskell and his Australian friend Ben Greig at a restaurant when Ms Horton's cellphone rang.

She walked away from the group speaking to her mother on the phone, but did not return.

Police said Ms Horton's mother heard her scream just as the line went dead.

The next day a jetskier found Ms Horton's body. She was still wearing an evening dress, and had been beaten round the head and body.

An autopsy revealed she had drowned.

Mr Haskell said he had been subjected to intense police inquiries.

He told the Herald he had just met Ms Horton before her phone rang, so he did not know her, although she was "stunning" in appearance.

Yesterday's court appearance had ended a horror week for him.

On New Year's Eve at a beach rave, Mr Haskell said, he had consumed a spiked "bucket" of drink, and subsequently lost all memory of the night.

His wallet was stolen during that time.

Meanwhile Mr Greig had met Ms Horton and her companion Ruth.

The next day the four of them got together for a drink and meal at the restaurant.

Finding out what had happened to Ms Horton had been terrifying for everyone, said Mr Haskell.

His experience with Thai authorities had been confusing.

"I'm just feeling sick. It's definitely something scary - it's not like getting pulled over for drink-driving back at home.

"It's just crazy. They speak stuff-all English and they don't say or tell you much."

The first night he and Mr Greig had spent six hours at the police station giving a statement.

They then agreed to give a DNA sample, which took a further four hours.

They were released and were heading home on a bus when authorities pulled them over. The pair were taken to a hotel where their passports were seized.

Although they were free to move around the resort, they were not able to leave the country.

Mr Haskell said he would fly to his home on the Gold Coast but planned to return to his parents' Cambridge home next month.

His father Owen flew in from Bangkok yesterday afternoon to be with him for the court appearance.

His mother Angela said last night the pair hoped to be on the ferry today heading for Bangkok to fly home.