Ex-Wife Charged With Killing US Diplomat

An American diplomat's ex-wife is on trial in Myanmar on charges linked to his killing inside a Yangon hotel. Thai national Pavinee Supasirivisan is accused of murdering 43-year-old Daniel Riva, who was found in his room at the Sakura Residence & Hotel on May 11 with stab wounds to his head and neck, reports the Times of London. The hotel, a short distance from the US Embassy, is known as a hub for foreign officials and visitors. The US State Department confirmed the "death of a US government employee" assigned to the embassy earlier this month but provided few other details.

Supasirivisan has been charged with murder, but she is standing trial first on an immigration charge that is filed against any foreign national accused of committing a crime in Myanmar, the AP reports. An attorney familiar with the case, who requested anonymity because of the ruling military junta's tight media controls, told the AP three prosecution witnesses—including immigration officers—testified. It's unclear whether Supasirivisan has entered a plea. A conviction on the immigration count could mean up to five years in prison; a murder conviction could carry the death penalty.

Riva grew up in East Norwich, New York and built a career targeting international organized crime. His previous diplomatic postings included Suriname and East Timor. The Times reports that according to social media accounts, Supasirivisan, originally from Bangkok, is a pastry chef who studied at Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts school and has a recipe-focused YouTube channel. She married Riva in 2018 and it's not clear when they separated.