01:07
Reporter
AUSTRALIAN authorities are expected to return to a Thai court in May to push for the extradition of two locals wanted in Melbourne for the murder of good samaritan Luke Mitchell.
Mr Mitchell, 29, was stabbed five times and kicked while he lay on the ground in the early hours of May 24, 2009 as his friends and sister-in-law Daniella pleaded with the attackers to stop.
He died later that morning in hospital.
He had stepped in to break up a brawl outside the Spot nightclub in Sydney Road, Brunswick.
His alleged killers fled to Thailand just hours after the stabbing.
Thai nationals Sarud Seehaverachart, 28, and Thatiya Terdputham, 35, were arrested late last year following requests from Australia.
The two men appeared in a Bangkok criminal court again yesterday, where prosecution witnesses argued for their extradition to Australia.
Three witnesses, including a senior tourist police sergeant major, Meesak Mankhong, gave details of the arrests of the men, who had been students in Australia at the time of Mr Mitchell's death in 2009, reports said yesterday.
They were initially arrested at Bangkok's international airport of Suvarnabhumi, but were released by local police as they were not facing criminal charges in Thailand and at the time a formal request for extradition from Australia was still pending.
In evidence on Monday, Thai police said Sarud had later been detained at a restaurant on the resort island of Phuket in September last year and was later handed over to Bangkok police.
Thatiya was arrested at the Suvarnabhumi International airport. A third man remains at large.
Sarud and Thatiya have pleaded not guilty to murder saying they had fought in self defence.
The next hearing date is scheduled for May 23 when Australian experts are expected to present further evidence surrounding the killing of Mr Mitchell.
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