BANGKOK: -- The parents and brother of a Japanese tourist murdered in a Thai historical park on the weekend identified the body of 27-year-old Tomoko Kawashita, saying that while the killing affected their family, it does not tarnish Thailand's good image in their eyes.

The family have brought new clothing for Ms. Kawashita's remains and said they will return to retrieve the body on November 29. They said that they still love Thai people and the country although their daughter was slain here.

The family asked the police to bring the killer to trial as soon as possible.

Police spokesman, Pol. Lt-Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen said investigators are focusing on robbery as the motive of the killing and believe the attacker to be a local person. They are confident that the case will be resolved within three days, he said.

Ms. Kawashita, from Osaka, had her throat slashed and was stabbed in the torso with a sharp object. The young woman had rented a bicycle to tour the scenic ruins in the Sukhothai historical park, about 400 km north of Bangkok, before she was murdered.

--TNA 2007-11-27