What happened
Australian travel agent Michelle Smith was killed in Phuket in 2012 when two men on a motorcycle attempted to steal her bag.
The investigation
Police used surveillance, witness information and the motorcycle trail to identify and arrest two suspects soon after the attack.
What the courts or investigators concluded
Both men were convicted of murder and robbery and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Thai court.
Why the case remains significant
The case received extensive Australian and Thai coverage and became a reminder that opportunistic street robbery can escalate into lethal violence within seconds.
Case context
Crime by Region organizes cases geographically so readers can move from one file to other investigations from the same country. For unresolved or contested cases, the wording above reflects the distinction between confirmed events, investigative theories and findings actually established in court.