Summary

NAME: THA NEIL 20080815I TAPE: EF08/0828 IN_TIME: 10:56:45:00 DURATION: 00:01:40:10 SOURCES: AP TELEVISION DATELINE: Bangkok - 15 August 2008 RESTRICTIONS: SHOTLIST 1. Wide of the detention bus arriving 2. Mid of Christopher Neil getting out of the bus and walking into detention area 3. Cutaway of photographers 4. Mid of Christopher Neil walking into detention room and sitting 5. Close-up of Neil's face 6. Wide of Neil inside the detention 7. Close-up of the court's door open where Christopher Neil's coming out and walk to the court room 8. Close-up of the room number of the court where the court will give the verdict on Neil's case 9. Close-up of Neil walking into the court room 10. Cutaway of media and Court officers 11. Mid and follow up of Neil while walking out of the court room after listening to his verdict 12. Close-up of the court sign 13. Wide of the exterior outside the court STORYLINE: A Canadian schoolteacher who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy was sentenced on Friday to three years and three months in jail in Thailand. Christopher Paul Neil, who taught in several Asian countries, was arrested last year following an international manhunt after hundreds of photos of him allegedly engaging in sex acts with young boys were discovered on the Internet. The Thai court also imposed a 60,000 baht (US$1,780) fine on the 32-year-old man who had pleaded guilty on May 12. His initial sentence of six years, six months was reduced by the court because Neil pleaded guilty. Neil still faces similar charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty, involving the younger brother of the 13-year-old victim. In that case, he faces up to 20 years in jail for charges that include sexually abusing a minor, videotaping the alleged abuse, taking a child without parental consent and holding him against his will. The child, who was nine years old at the time, claims Neil paid him 15 to 30 US dollars to perform oral sex in 2003. That trial resumes on October 7. "OK," was Neil's only comment to reporters after the verdict was read. His interpreter said Neil, dressed in a prison uniform and wearing ankle chains, would not appeal. During the trial, the victim, new aged 18, testified he went to Neil's apartment in Bangkok where the crime was committed. Photos that allegedly showed Neil engaging in sexual acts and playing with naked or partially clothed young boys were also presented. Neil was arrested in Thailand on October 19, 2007, after the international police agency Interpol unscrambled swirled digital images from about 200 Internet photos, which allegedly show Neil engaging in sexual acts with young boys. Neil admitted through his translator that he took the photos but said he did not post the pictures online. Hundreds of tips were received and Neil was arrested 11 days after the Interpol appeal was launched.