British yachtsman's killers get 25 years

The widow of a British yachtsman murdered by three Burmese fishermen off the coast of Thailand today welcomed prison sentences handed down to them.

Linda Robertson, 59, said she believed the jail terms will give them time to reflect on the "heinous" crime they committed.

Her husband Malcolm Robertson, 64, was bludgeoned and thrown overboard off the Andaman coast after the men boarded his vessel in March.

Mrs Robertson was left fearing for her life as the migrants kept her tied up for around 10 hours before they eventually fled the yacht.

Thai fishermen found the body of Mr Robertson 10 nautical miles north of Satun's Lipeh Island a week after the attack.

Two adult Burmese nationals had their jail terms halved to 25 years eight months at Satun Provincial Court on Thursday after they pleaded guilty to his murder.

And a 17-year-old boy also convicted of the killing is to be held in custody until he reaches the age of 24, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.

Today Mrs Robertson, from St Leonards, East Sussex, said: "I don't want to trivialise Malcolm's death but I don't think 25 years in a Thai prison is going to be pleasant for them.

"I do hope the time they spend in jail will help them reflect and realise the heinous crime they committed. I also believe they were victims themselves.

"I don't think they had any plan. The fact that they didn't kill me, which they could quite easily have done, shows some compassion from them."