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Published on January 12, 2008

In a statement issued through their spokesman Ross Fortune in Calgary the family complained that neither the Canadian nor Thai governments had provided answers to what had happened to del Pinto, 24, from Calgary and Reisig, 24, of Chilliwack, British Columbia early on Sunday morning.

"Carly and her Thai boyfriend are in fear for their lives and feel they require help from the Canadian government. The couple have been threatened that it is not safe for them to return to their residence in Pai as the police officer responsible is still out on bail.

"The Canadian government has not assigned anyone to watch over and protect Carly and her boyfriend at this point in time. This is of great concern to the del Pinto family as Carly and her boyfriend are the only two reliable witnesses to the murder of del Pinto.

"Carly communicated that she and her boyfriend are attempting to return to Canada, where they will feel safer in continuing their pursuit of justice for Leo. This will require special accommodation by the government as her boyfriend is a Thai citizen.

The del Pinto family supports the decision for Carly to return to Canada and asks that the government expedite this process as quickly as possible so that Carly and her boyfriend can be in a safe environment."

Nobody in Pai has come forward to support Carly's claim that Sergeant Uthai Dechawiwat made an unprovoked attack on her and Leo and then deliberately shot Leo in the head and later on the ground in the heart before turning his gun on her.

Instead she has been called a troublemaker who caused the incident by hitting the policeman. Her Thai boyfriend Rattaporn Varawadee has remained by her bedside in Chiang Mai Ram hospital and has been careful to say little apart from "Nothing any of us did justified the policeman pulling his gun and shooting."

Reisig has insisted she will return for the trial of Sergeant Dechawiwat with a Canadian Government Victims of Crime fund. Yesterday she made an anxious call to Canada saying the police wanted to take her from Chiang Mai back to Pai.

Andrew Drummond

Special to The Nation