(Reuters) — Thailand’s Pattaya Provincial Court on Tuesday (February 7) handed down a death sentence to Australian national Antonio Bagnato for the murder of a former Hells Angels member over a year ago.
A 22-year-old U.S. national, Tyler Gerard, was also given a three-year jail sentence for being an accomplice to the crime, but his sentence was later lowered to two years as he cooperated with the investigation and provided useful information, according to his lawyer.
Both Bagnato and Gerard were arrested in December 2015 after police found evidence linking the battered body of Wayne Schneider, a former Hells Angel member, which was found buried underground.
“The court has sentenced the first defendant (Antonio Bagnato) to death for he, along with others who have fled, detained, physically assaulted, and then killed the victim. As for the second defendant (Tyler Gerard), the court handed down a three year sentence for being an accomplice to the crime,” said Gerard’s lawyer, Phipat Chantakul.
Phipat added that the judges had found the crime to be premeditated, as the defendants had rented a house and car to commit it.
He also said the defendants both have a month to submit an appeal against the court’s verdict.