DNA evidence found at the scene of the murder of Brecon student Kirsty Jones in Thailand is 2000 is being compared against the DNA database in Thailand and certain categories of offenders in and around the Chiang Mai area.

The news comes following meetings held by Dyfed Powys detectives with the Thai Authorities last week. The Welsh detectives were pleased with the outcome of discussions and are hopeful that progress can be made.

Kirsty, 23 at the time, from Tredomen, was on a backpacking holiday when she was raped and strangled at a guesthouse in Thailand in 2000.

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Wilkins said I am very encouraged by the content of the discussions with Police Colonel Songsak Raksaksakul, who is the Director of Transnational Crime for the Department of Special Investigations and the officer who is now leading the investigation.

"We had a full and frank discussion regarding the evidence and the ongoing case. This included a presentation from the investigation team on their ongoing lines of enquiry. It is clear that they have, and continue to place considerable importance on this investigation.

It has always been our view, based on the forensic evidence, that the focus of the investigation should be on identifying the donor of the DNA recovered from the scene which is of Thai origin, in particular, from the area of Chiang Mai.

A theory put forward by the original Thai investigation team was that the scene may have been contaminated following the murder of Kirsty Jones.

We have never been presented with any credible evidence or intelligence to support this theory. Colonel Songsak shares our view that whilst not impossible it is highly unlikely. Whether it belongs to the offender or anyone who may have assisted him, the answer rests in Chiang Mai.

We also discussed at length a programme of continued testing of male offenders against the available evidence. They have and will be making comparisons against the DNA database in Thailand and certain categories of offenders in and around the Chiang Mai area.

We have also offered assistance in relation to an appeal for information using the local media in the area and will explore the possibility and legality of offering a financial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offender.

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DNA clue to Kirsty murder