Yachtsman's widow returns to UK

Linda Robertson, 57, was greeted by family members as she arrived at Heathrow with the couple's adult children, who flew out to Thailand to offer their support in the wake of the attack.

It is believed businessman Malcolm Robertson, 64, from Hastings, East Sussex, was bludgeoned to death with a hammer and thrown overboard off the Andaman coast as he sailed with his wife.

His body was found by fishermen 10 nautical miles north of Satun's Lipeh Island on Monday, a week after the attack.

Mrs Robertson's brother John Clee, 63, from Battle, East Sussex, said she had been left "shell shocked" and "bewildered" by the tragic chain of events preceding her return to Britain.

He said: "She's up and down. She seems okay one moment then the next minute very upset. It's early days yet."

He added: "There's been lots of questions and lots of crying, it's been a sad, sad day."

He said Mr Robertson's body was expected to be repatriated within the next week, then arrangements for his funeral could begin. Referring to his sister's feelings towards her husband's killers he said: "She doesn't forgive them for what they did, but doesn't want to see them dealt with the death penalty."

He said his sister wanted to see justice served through a long prison sentence, but the family had been warned it could be up to a year before the case came to court. Thai police have yet to lay further charges against three migrant workers from neighbouring Burma who were arrested on a raft about half a mile from the yacht.

They said the three, aged 19, 18 and 17, confessed to the killing but were only charged with kidnap, assault and theft.