Police are trying to extradite Paul Cryne the 58-year-old former lifeguard from Thailand whose DNA was found at the crime scene and who was named in court as an associate of Birchwood.

Mr Cryne, a former lifeguard, swimming coach, nurse and businessman will face an extradition hearing to face charges for the murder of Mrs Birchwood.

He is currently in custody in a Thai jail waiting to hear if he will be re-tried on charges of murdering another Brit in Thailand in 2003.

Thai authorities are currently trying to appeal against his acquittal for the murder of Welsh skydiving instructor Robert Henry.

Mr Cryne was charged in 2005 with the murder of Mr Henry, a businessman, bar owner and boxing-promoter from Coventry whose bullet ridden body was found in a canal outside Pattaya in October 2003.

The 42-year-old had been shot six times in the back of the head.

Henry ran a company called Siam Air Sport and a bar called the Sky Dive Bar.

Mr Cryne was acquitted of his killing after several prosecution witnesses failed to appear to give testimony at his two week trial. On the last day even the prosecutor himself failed to appear.

Mr Cryne has always strenuously denied the charge, claiming he was a patsy, set up by the real killers.

Mr Cryne, who is formerly from Manchester and now living permanently in Thailand, it is claimed, has a British Chief Constable’s commendation and 157 citations for lifesaving, and has also appeared in the Guinness Book of Records for completing a 24-hour underwater swim and swimming underwater from Scotland to Ireland.

After being injured in a diving accident he retired to Thailand with a disability award.

He had to resort to begging from friends and doing odd jobs as he was unable to return to UK to draw a disablement pension.

Mr Cryne has worked in the Middle East and Australia during the course of his varied career.

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