Bethany Clarke whose best friend died of methanol poisoning in Laos weighs in on ‘appalling' twist

News.com.au

19-05-2025

Bethany Clarke, the best friend of UK lawyer Simone White — who died in the same Laos methanol poisoning incident that killed Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones — says there is only one way someone will be held accountable for the tragedy.
On 60 Minutes on Sunday, an update in the case of the mass poisoning was given by the grieving families of Ms Bowles and Ms Jones. The families revealed that up to 13 people were possibly linked to the multiple deaths, and that charges may finally be laid.
However, during the interview, the mothers of Holly and Bianca slammed the proposed charges against those who were allegedly involved, saying they are sceptical that justice will ever be served for their daughters.
Bianca and Holly, both 19, had travelled to the tourist town of Vang Vieng in November last year when they fell ill.
The pair were killed alongside four other tourists - including 28-year-old lawyer Ms White — staying at the Nana Backpackers hostel after accidentally consuming methanol when free shots of vodka and whiskey were handed out.
Ms White, a lawyer from the UK who was travelling with her best friend Ms Clarke, consumed the same free drinks at the hostel and lost her life several days later.
For the families of Ms Bowles and Ms Jones, their heartbreak was multiplied by the mystery of how and why the methanol poisoning happened, and not knowing who was responsible.
In an exclusive interview with 60 Minutes journalist Tara Brown six months after the shock deaths, the mothers of the teens – Michelle Jones and Sam Bowles – said the families had been met with silence from the Laos government, despite multiple attempts to seek answers.
Mrs Jones and Mrs Bowles said they had written to Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone 'a million times'. They claim to have even contacted his wife. Still, they said they had had no response.
Finally, 10 days ago the families received the news – not from Laos, but from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) that charges have reportedly been recommended by local police against 13 people from Nana's Hostel and the Tiger distillery.
The proposed charges include elimination of evidence, violation of food and health security and unlawful business operations.
For Mr Jones and Mrs Bowles, the proposed charges are shockingly weak.
'Pretty appalling, I'd say pretty insulting,' Mrs Bowles fumed.
Mrs Jones agreed, saying: 'I think we're pretty furious about it … Food and beverage. You know, that's like?'
'What is that? We don't even know,' Mrs Bowles continued. 'We know that there's no murder or manslaughter charges, which we feel there should be.'
The mothers said their feeling was that those allegedly involved will simply get a slap on the wrist, and as are only 'going to be fined' if found guilty.
Mrs Bowles explained: 'It's heart-breaking … Heart-breaking and just full of anger, frustration.'
They believed that Laos authorities simply don't care.
'They don't care. They don't, life is nothing,' Mrs Bowles said.
Speaking to news.com.au, Ms Clarke — who became incredibly unwell from consuming methanol alongside Ms White, however survived the poisoning — agreed that the charges meant nothing and there was only one way of getting justice.
'I think the UK and Australia need to push forward with a travel ban [to Laos] because I don't think that it's fair for Laos to come up with these charges when they should be a lot heavier,' Ms Clarke said from Brisbane.
'The mass poisoning in itself, six people died and loads hospitalised [should be enough for a bigger charge].
'I think that without a travel ban, I just don't think we will ever get anywhere. I don't know if Australia would ever do that, I understand it's drastic, but they just won't listen to us...and I can't see any other way.'
Over recent months, the mothers say they have channelled their grief into raising methanol awareness and charity dollars in their daughters' names.
Joy turned to horror
For the young Melbourne travellers, it was meant to be a trip like no other.
Instead, their parents are dealing with a heartache they never should have to experience.
'I was so happy for her,' Mrs Jones told 60 Minutes in an earlier interview, of daughter Bianca. 'She was so excited, but I just didn't think that, you know, she wasn't going to come back.'
While Mark Jones recalls the last conversation he had with Bianca: 'I said, 'Let's take a selfie'. And she said, 'Bugger off, dad'. It was the last conversation I had with her.
'It's still hard to believe she's not coming home. You wake up every morning, expecting her to walk out of her room.'
The devastated Melbourne families revealed just how dangerous methanol is.
'What it can do to your body is incredible,' Mrs Jones said. 'It's just so lethal.'
'They weren't doing anything wrong,' Mr Jones recalled of the best friends' trip. 'They were having, having a drink, having fun. And yeah, there's no way to determine if there is methanol in a drink. So it's, it's very much a silent killer.'
As NSW University clinical toxicologist Dr Darren Roberts warns, methanol is invisible and tasteless. A minuscule amount can blind a person, while a single serve of spirits can be deadly.
'30ml is the fatal amount that will kill someone if they don't get help fast enough,' Dr Roberts said. 'One shot to die. Two teaspoons to have severe lifelong injuries.'