Briton 'who murdered wife when she refused sex' found dead in infamous Thai prison

Kevin Smitham fatally injured at Ubon Ratchathani prison while awaiting trial over killing

Kevin Smitham died in prison while awaiting trial for the alleged murder of his wife Kanda (Facebook)

A British man accused of kicking to death his wife after she refused to have sex with him died in unexplained circumstances at a jail in Thailand, it has emerged.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed Kevin Smitham's body was found on the grounds of Ubon Ratchathani Central Prison last year.

Mr Smitham, 51, from Nottingham, had been awaiting trial for the alleged murder of his Thai wife, Kandra Smitham, 29, who died 12 months ago.

The couple, who had two young children together, had been staying with her parents in Ubon Ratchathani, a city in northeast Isan region, for the Songkran New Year festival.

Her body was found by neighbours under a blanket on 16 April.

Mr Smitham was arrested and charged with murder but was discovered fatally wounded at the base of an outbuilding on the perimeter of the prison in August last year. It is unclear how he sustained his injuries.

The Foreign Office confirmed his death this week. A spokesman said: "Our staff are providing support and advice to the family of a British man who died in Thailand in August 2018, and they remain in touch with the local authorities."

Before Ms Smitham’s death, the couple had lived together in the popular beach resort of Pattaya on Thailand’s east coast, where she was a well-known fitness enthusiast.

Mr Smitham admitted killing his wife after she was found naked and badly bruised, according to police. He was reported to have flown into a jealous rage and accused her of having an affair after she declined his advances.

Inspector General Watcharapol Pimwong, deputy police chief for Det Udom district, said at the time: “He said that he did not mean to kill her.

"He and his wife had beer until late at night. During the drinking and eating, suddenly they started arguing because he wanted to have sex.

"His wife refused and this caused jealousy. He thought that the wife had been courting other men.

"He said he attacked her with his foot, kicked her to face and body several times.

"The wife ran away from home and fell in front of the house. He left his wife like that by covering the blanket to cover it. Then went to bed."

Additional reporting by SWNS