One of two accused killers who fled to Thailand after the death of a good Samaritan in Melbourne has been extradited to Australia to face court.
Thatiya Terdputham, a dual Thai-Australian citizen, fled to Thailand with co-accused Surad Seehaverachart, 31, following the 2009 death of Luke Mitchell.
But Terdputham, 38, surrendered to police in Bangkok on Sunday and was flown back to Melbourne, police say.
He appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with one count of murder.
The court heard Terdputham will voluntarily provide a DNA sample that will be crosschecked with exhibits already partially tested.
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He was remanded in custody and will be back in court on January 13, 2014.
Mr Mitchell, a chef, died after being bashed and stabbed as he attempted to help a man being assaulted outside a nightclub in Melbourne's north.
In November 2011, the Bangkok Criminal Court determined that Terdputham could be extradited to Australia, but he appealed the decision.
He later dropped the appeal.
The Bangkok court determined his co-accused Seehaverachart could also be extradited, a decision he appealed.
Both men, who were students in Australia at the time of the murder, pleaded not guilty before court in Thailand, saying they had acted in self-defence.
They claimed a third man, who is still at large, was responsible for the killing.
