JUST WHEN THEY THOUGHT THE WORST WAS OVER… 💥 HEARTBROKEN FAMILIES OF BIANCA JONES AND HOLLY MORTON-BOWLES FACE ANOTHER CRUSHING SETBACK
The father of an Australian teen who died after drinking poisoned alcohol in Laos says people will “think twice” about travelling to the country amid anger over revelations Laos authorities will only charge those responsible for serving the drinks with minor offences.
Melbourne women Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19, were among six people who died after drinking methanol-tainted alcohol they were served at a bar in the backpacker hotspot of Vang Vieng in November 2024.
Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles died after drinking methanol-laced alcohol in Laos. Supplied
Those who are alleged to have been responsible for doling out the tainted liquor are expected to be charged with producing a hazardous substance and running an illegal business, according to multiple reports.
If found guilty of both charges, those parties would face a maximum of a year in jail and a fine of $1600.
Murder or manslaughter charges are not expected to be laid.
Along with Morton-Bowles and Jones, four other people including two Danish woman, a US man, and a UK woman, died in the same event.
The parents of both teens addressed the media publicly this morning.
“A lot of people will definitely think twice about going to Laos and as they should, because they’ve demonstrated the way that they act and as I say, the value that they put on on tourists’ lives over there,” Holly’s father Shaun Bowles said.
“And the way they’ve tried to cover this up.”
Bianca’s father Mark Jones spoke of the family’s grief and anger at the legal outcome.
“To say we’re disappointed would be a gross understatement,” he said.
“You lose these people that you love beyond words. So to not have them here is hard.”
In a statement, a spokesperson said the government was “deeply disappointed” more serious charges were not being pursued.
“We have consistently conveyed our expectations that charges should reflect the seriousness of the tragedy that killed Holly, Bianca, and four other foreign nationals in November 2024,” the spokesperson said.
9News also understands the government has called in the Laos ambassador over the incident.
Holly’s parents Shaun Bowles and Samantha Morton earlier this morning pleaded for the government to appeal the charges.
“We would love a last-minute appeal,” Morton told Today.
“We can appeal the charges, and I’m certainly hoping that we do, which whichever charges are laid, I think that’s the first step.
“And of course, we ask for any support from anyone that can just add any more weight and maybe bring the charges forward that we’d like.”
She said the lenience of the mooted charges was unjustifiable.
“That’s what we want, justice for all the girls. That’s what we were hoping,” she said.
The government has been urged to intervene. Supplied
Shaun Bowles said he’d received conflicting stories about what the investigation would result in over the years, but he was disappointed a potential 10-year sentence for breaching food safety standards had seemingly been taken off the table.
“We’re really just trying to process the whole thing, to be perfectly honest,” he said.
“There’s no words really, to describe how devastating it is.”
A number of staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel were previously charged with evidence tampering in relation to one of the deaths and handed fines and suspended sentences.
SOURCE: https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/laos-alcohol-poisoning-bianca-jones-holly-morton-bowles-family-outraged-by-expected-charges-20260717-p60g22.html
