Husband of Thai woman from Portsmouth found dead 16 years ago says he 'has nothing to hide'

THE husband of a Thai woman from Portsmouth, whose body was found in a stream in Yorkshire - sparking a 16-year murder mystery, has insisted he has ‘nothing to hide’ over the death.
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Lamduan Seekanya’s half-naked body was found by walkers in a remote location on the Pennine Way, on September 20, 2004.

For 15 years, police were unable to identify the remains of the mother of three, who became known as the Lady of the Hills.

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The police are seeking information from anyone who knew Lamduan Armitage nee Seekanya or her family between 1991 and up to the time she died in September 2004. Photo: North Yorkshire Police/PA Wire.The police are seeking information from anyone who knew Lamduan Armitage nee Seekanya or her family between 1991 and up to the time she died in September 2004. Photo: North Yorkshire Police/PA Wire.
The police are seeking information from anyone who knew Lamduan Armitage nee Seekanya or her family between 1991 and up to the time she died in September 2004. Photo: North Yorkshire Police/PA Wire.
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But last year detectives made a breakthrough in the investigation, using DNA tests to finally confirm the 36-year-old’s identity.

Now, her husband David Armitage has spoken out, claiming he has been left ‘feeling totally out of the loop’ with the investigation.

His comments come as British investigators prepare to travel to Thailand, where Mr Armitage has lived since his wife disappeared, to hunt for clues to her death.

Mr Armitage criticised police for treating him like a suspect instead of a bereaved husband and complained that he had not been allowed to grieve, The Sun reported.

Jumsri Seekanya sits by a picture of her daughter Lamduan, at her home in Phen district, Udon Thani,  (Photo by Yuttapong Kamnodnae/Bangkok Post)Jumsri Seekanya sits by a picture of her daughter Lamduan, at her home in Phen district, Udon Thani,  (Photo by Yuttapong Kamnodnae/Bangkok Post)
Jumsri Seekanya sits by a picture of her daughter Lamduan, at her home in Phen district, Udon Thani, (Photo by Yuttapong Kamnodnae/Bangkok Post)
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‘If the police want to formally speak to me I would co-operate and answer their questions,’ he told the paper.

‘I made that very clear to the British Embassy here. No problem, I actually made that offer.

‘My position is that I have nothing to hide so why wouldn’t I want to talk to them?

‘I have not been allowed to grieve. I wasn’t invited to the funeral and have not been involved legally in any of the exhumation of the body process.

The picture of Mrs Lamduan, who last contacted her parents in 2004. (Photo by Yuttapong Kumnodnae/Bangkok Post)The picture of Mrs Lamduan, who last contacted her parents in 2004. (Photo by Yuttapong Kumnodnae/Bangkok Post)
The picture of Mrs Lamduan, who last contacted her parents in 2004. (Photo by Yuttapong Kumnodnae/Bangkok Post)
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‘I feel totally left out of the loop. I am very concerned about what happened [to Lamduan] but I have no knowledge of it.’

As reported in The News, Lamduan lived in Portsmouth between 1991 and 2003.

Former friends told this newspaper she had gone through ‘family problems’ while living in the city before her disappearance.

Mr Armitage, when approached by The Sun last year, categorically denied killing his wife. There is no suggestion he is a suspect in the death.

The grave of Lamduan Armitage being tended by members of the Thai Women Network in the UK.The grave of Lamduan Armitage being tended by members of the Thai Women Network in the UK.
The grave of Lamduan Armitage being tended by members of the Thai Women Network in the UK.

Police have not made any arrests in the case.

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North Yorkshire Police is still investigating the death. The force’s cold case review unit (CCRU) is awaiting permission from the UK Central Authority to take the investigation to Thailand.

Adam Harland, manager of the CCRU, said: ‘We are determined to progress this investigation and seek answers for Lamduan’s family, especially as it’s almost a year since we were finally able to confirm her identity after it had been a tragic mystery since 2004.

‘We know that Lamduan’s mother is not in good health, and it is very frustrating that we are still unable to be able to fully explain what happened to her daughter, or reunite her with her daughter’s remains.

‘Unfortunately, there has been a long delay in being able to go to Thailand to interview members of Lamduan’s family.

‘We have had the support of the Thai authorities to request their assistance to conduct enquiries in Thailand.’