Murder of Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf

Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, a Swiss national, was on holiday in Phuket, Thailand, in August 2021 when she was killed at Ao Yon waterfall, a popular tourist site. She had entered Phuket under the Phuket Sandbox pilot programme, which allowed vaccinated tourists to visit the area without the standard quarantine, provided they did not leave the designated Phuket zone. Sauvain-Weisskopf worked as deputy protocol chief of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland in Germany.

Her body was discovered at the waterfall and was believed to have been there for approximately three days prior to being found. She was found wearing only a t-shirt and jacket, and her body had been covered with a black tarp. Police stated there were signs of rape.

According to the account of events, on August 3, 2021, a 27-year-old local man, later identified by police as Theerawut Tortip, went to the Ao Yon waterfall to collect wild orchids and other plants. He encountered Sauvain-Weisskopf, who was sitting on a rock with her feet in the water. He approached her from behind, placed her in a choke hold, and, after she struggled, forced her head underwater until she lost consciousness. He then dragged her to the shore and removed some of her clothing. Upon turning her body over and observing signs consistent with her having died, he reportedly abandoned his intent to sexually assault her. He covered her body with a black plastic sheet found nearby and weighed it down with rocks, then searched her bag and stole 300 Baht.

Thai police announced on August 7, 2021, that they had arrested the suspect. He was linked to the crime through CCTV footage showing him traveling to the waterfall at the same time as Sauvain-Weisskopf, and he admitted to police that he had stolen from her and killed her.

The defendant, whose name is also rendered as Teerawat Thotip in court reporting, was found guilty of murder and initially sentenced to death. This sentence was subsequently commuted to life imprisonment, reportedly in consideration of his confession. Additional charges of attempted rape and indecent assault were dismissed. Sauvain-Weisskopf's husband and two sons attended the sentencing hearing virtually from Switzerland via Google Meet.