Inquest of St Leonard's yachtsman murdered by Burmese fishermen to open (From The Argus)

Inquest of St Leonard's yachtsman murdered by Burmese fishermen to open

9:02am Wednesday 9th December 2009 in

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An inquest will be held today into the death of a British yachtsman murdered by three Burmese fishermen off the coast of Thailand during a dream sailing adventure with his wife.

Semi-retired businessman Malcolm Robertson, 64, who founded the Mr Bean chain of coffee shops, was bludgeoned and then thrown overboard off the Andaman coast after the men boarded his vessel in March this year.

His wife, Linda Robertson, 59, was left fearing for her life as the migrants kept her tied up for around 10 hours before they eventually fled the 44ft yacht, named Mr Bean after the chain of coffee shops he ran.

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

Last month, two adult Burmese nationals had their jail terms halved to 25 years, eight months at Satun Provincial Court after they pleaded guilty to his murder.

And a 17-year-old boy also convicted of his killing is to be held in custody until he reaches the age of 24.

Following their sentencing, Mrs Robertson, from St Leonards, East Sussex, expressed hope that they would reflect on their "heinous" crimes.

The couple's four grown-up children, two each from previous marriages, flew to Thailand to support Mrs Robertson following the killing as intensive efforts by the Thai authorities were made to find the body.

The family had to endure several false reports of his body being found before official confirmation came through that fishermen had discovered him in the sea.

According to reports from Thailand, the three offenders, named as Eksian Warapon, 19, an 18-year-old known as Aow, and the 17-year-old youth, known as Ko, had been stranded on an island after jumping from a Thai fishing ship.

After finding the island had little food and water, they killed Mr Robertson when they boarded his anchored yacht. The trio were later arrested on a raft about half a mile from the couple's vessel.

Mrs Robertson escaped with minor injuries but detailed her ordeal during 10 hours of testimony in Satun, describing how the attackers tied her hands and feet and how she heard her husband tell them: "Get off my boat."

Mr Robertson had passed the running of his chain of coffee shops in East Sussex to his children.

He was fulfilling a lifelong dream of spending winter months sailing around warmer climes with his wife.

The couple, both qualified yacht masters who had sailed round the world, had been married for 25 years and had seven grandchildren between them.

More than 150 mourners gathered at his funeral service at St John the Evangelist Church near their home in St Leonards where it was said he "chased his dream" of world adventure.

The inquest will be held at Hastings Law Courts from 2pm.