James Hughes was found dead in a Hua Hin hotel room on Sept 6 after having disappeared on Aug 5. He was 58 and his cause of death was given as "circulatory failure". But when brother David Hughes received an autopsy report a month later, he was convinced that something major was being covered up.

The results showed that the American lecturer, who taught at Webster University Thailand (WUT), sustained several bruises from head to toe and an internal bruise in the occipital region of his head.

"He was beaten badly and I am sure he died from these injuries, definitely," David Hughes told Spectrum in a telephone interview from New York.

A police report seen by Spectrum said James Hughes had checked in on Sept 5 and was staying alone. On the morning of the next day, a hotel cleaner had knocked on his door but there was no reply, and the door was locked from the inside.

Police found Mr Hughes' body lying at the end of the bed, but found no signs of fighting in the room. The body was transferred to the Police General Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine for an autopsy on Sept 7. Mr Hughes' death was said to be a result of "failed respiration and blood circulation", according to his death certificate seen by Spectrum.

It wasn't until a month later that David Hughes received the autopsy report, which showed several contusion, tear and avulsion wounds as well as an internal bruise in the occipital region of his head.

The autopsy ruled out suicide, drug use and poison, although alcohol was detected in his body.