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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Man returns home from Thai jail | Man returns home from Thai jail |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The family of a British man given a life sentence in Thailand for drugs offences has welcomed him home after his conviction was quashed. | |
| Jody Aggett was greeted at Heathrow by his five-year-old son, Ryan, his parents, Lorna and Tony, and his twin sister, Tammy. | Jody Aggett was greeted at Heathrow by his five-year-old son, Ryan, his parents, Lorna and Tony, and his twin sister, Tammy. |
| Mr Aggett's Thai girlfriend, Ramphia Lo, gave birth in jail after she was sentenced alongside Mr Aggett in 2001. | Mr Aggett's Thai girlfriend, Ramphia Lo, gave birth in jail after she was sentenced alongside Mr Aggett in 2001. |
| The couple decided to send Ryan home to his grandparents in Swindon, Wiltshire. | The couple decided to send Ryan home to his grandparents in Swindon, Wiltshire. |
| The emotional meeting on Tuesday at Heathrow was only the second time the little boy had seen his father. | The emotional meeting on Tuesday at Heathrow was only the second time the little boy had seen his father. |
| f I could have picked him up in my arms I would have done Tony Aggett Mr Aggett said: "It's great to be back." | |
| He added that he had not been confident he would be freed when his case was brought before the Thai Supreme Court. He admitted: "I was expecting the same sentence again." | He added that he had not been confident he would be freed when his case was brought before the Thai Supreme Court. He admitted: "I was expecting the same sentence again." |
| Mrs Aggett said she was looking forward to welcoming her son home. | |
| She said: "Jody has been our strength throughout all of this and Ryan has been such a great comfort because every time I saw him I saw a little bit of Jody." | |
| She said she would "always admire and love" Ramphia Lo, who is known as Kristin to the family, for allowing the little boy to be sent to the UK. | |
| Mr Aggett's father said: "I'm ecstatic. If I could have picked him up in my arms I would have done, I can't believe that he's here." | |
| False confession | False confession |
| Mr Aggett, who was originally sentenced to death before it was commuted to a life sentence, had been living above a travel agents in Bangkok with his girlfriend when they were both arrested. | Mr Aggett, who was originally sentenced to death before it was commuted to a life sentence, had been living above a travel agents in Bangkok with his girlfriend when they were both arrested. |
| His parents said the pair were allowed to stay rent-free in the flat if they opened and closed the office. | His parents said the pair were allowed to stay rent-free in the flat if they opened and closed the office. |
| But the agency's owner had been manufacturing ecstasy in the building, they claim. | But the agency's owner had been manufacturing ecstasy in the building, they claim. |
| After being ordered to sign what the family says amounted to a false confession written in Thai, Mr Aggett was found guilty of being part of the drugs plot. | After being ordered to sign what the family says amounted to a false confession written in Thai, Mr Aggett was found guilty of being part of the drugs plot. |
| He lodged an appeal against the conviction with the Thai supreme court, claiming an unfair trial and insufficient evidence, but a military coup last year delayed his hearing. | He lodged an appeal against the conviction with the Thai supreme court, claiming an unfair trial and insufficient evidence, but a military coup last year delayed his hearing. |
| Sabine Zanker, of Fair Trials Abroad, said the family now intended to work on getting a visa for Kristin. |