Body of slain British yachtsman found : Satun governor

The search team found his body near Adang island on the seventh day of the searching. His body was expected to arrive in Satun's pier in La-ngu district in late afternoon, the governor said.

Earlier reports said the three Burmese fishermen charged with slaying Robertson in the far South may escape a murder conviction and the death penalty because the victim's body has not been found.

The three Burmese men, aged 17, 18 and 19, have said they climbed on to the Robertsons' yacht because they were "starving" after fleeing rough conditions on a Thai fishing vessel to a nearby island.

They claim they went two days without food and were challenged by Robertson while desperately searching his yacht for food. The eldest of the three reportedly confessed to both Thai police and a British photographer that he killed Robertson with a hammer after a struggle - then lowered the Englishman's body into the sea.

The search is difficult because the exact spot where Robertson was thrown into the sea is unknown, but it is believed to have occurred in deep water and in an area with strong underwater currents.

Officials monitoring the case say a report on Friday that the missing man's body had been found was incorrect - only debris from the yacht had been seen.

The man's wife, Linda Robertson, confirmed the identity of the attackers and gave testimony in local courts - one for the two eldest accused and another for the 16-year-old - on Friday.

Mrs Robertson was tied up during the "horrifying" ordeal but managed to haul in the anchor and motor away to safety after the Burmese men left on a dinghy on Tuesday morning, nine to 10 hours after sneaking on board.

In an interview by phone, she expressed relief yesterday that the trio - described as "pirates" in extensive coverage in the UK press - had been caught so swiftly by the police, whose efforts she lauded.

She said she certainly felt the youngest of the Burmese was anguished about her husband's death, but she was not sure if the older pair were as remorseful as they had said. But she felt it was "irrelevant" if they faced a murder charge or manslaughter, as "it wouldn't bring Malcolm back".

"Unless they have the body they can't be charged for murder, but whatever happens they'll get 15 years in jail, and I don't think 15 years in a Thai jail would be an experience many would want to go through," she said."But we - for me and the family - want to find the body to have closure."

She and her husband left the UK 10 years ago to sail around the world, but had "loved Thailand so much" they remained here for three years. On Saturday she and the couple's four children - all in their 30s - held a service on the yacht ("Mr Bean") to remember Malcolm.

"The family are with me and that is a huge difference. We had a lovely moment on the bow of the boat her -not just tears, but laughter also… I wasn't quite as horrified to be on the boat as I thought I'd be."

While her children are due to fly home on Monday, Mrs Robertson said she would stay on while the search continues for her husband's body.

"The question is how long do you stay waiting? I have been told that a body can survive for at least three months in the water, which surprised me," Over 100 local fishing boats are keeping an eye out for the body, along with half a dozen large trawlers commissioned into the search, plus three Navy and marine police vessels, several spotter planes and helicopters. Local divers have also been talking to police about helping with the search.