PHUKET: A British expat resident and his Thai wife were brutally murdered at a small Thai tourist resort for 200 baht and a mobile telephone, police said today.
Officers arrested the security guard, a chef and a local fisherman over the killing of Michael Raymond, 68, and his wife Suchada Bonkamdi, 52, early yesterday morning.
The fisherman told police that he heard noise coming from the couple's bungalow at the tiny resort in Prachuap Khiri Khan, south of Bangkok. He thought the couple must be making love and did not sound the alarm.
A maid went to the room yesterday at 3.30pm after the couple failed to appear.
The body of Mr Raymond, dressed only in brown shorts, was found near a sofa with his face and head savagely beaten. His wife, dressed only in a pink top, was found with similar wounds near the refrigerator.
Police believe the killers wanted cash but the couple only had 200 baht and a mobile telephone. The security guard and the cook have confessed but the fisherman denies involvement, officers said today.
A spokesperson for the Jack Beach Resort told Phuketwan today: ''We are shocked and horrified.
''This has always been a safe place. We have often left doors open, without fear of robbery. Now we will have to reassess the casual holiday way.''
The 17-bungalow resort on the Gulf of Thailand has been open for seven years.
The dead couple married about two years ago and had been living at Khon Kaen, not far from Bangkok, police believe. They had checked in just for the one night, the spokesperson said.
Police named the confessed killers as security guard Pongpitak Tapsawang, 29, and cook Prajak Maunjinka, 50. Fisherman Jakkarin Auyen, 30, so far denies involvement.
Officers arrested the security guard, a chef and a local fisherman over the killing of Michael Raymond, 68, and his wife Suchada Bonkamdi, 52, early yesterday morning.
The fisherman told police that he heard noise coming from the couple's bungalow at the tiny resort in Prachuap Khiri Khan, south of Bangkok. He thought the couple must be making love and did not sound the alarm.
A maid went to the room yesterday at 3.30pm after the couple failed to appear.
The body of Mr Raymond, dressed only in brown shorts, was found near a sofa with his face and head savagely beaten. His wife, dressed only in a pink top, was found with similar wounds near the refrigerator.
Police believe the killers wanted cash but the couple only had 200 baht and a mobile telephone. The security guard and the cook have confessed but the fisherman denies involvement, officers said today.
A spokesperson for the Jack Beach Resort told Phuketwan today: ''We are shocked and horrified.
''This has always been a safe place. We have often left doors open, without fear of robbery. Now we will have to reassess the casual holiday way.''
The 17-bungalow resort on the Gulf of Thailand has been open for seven years.
The dead couple married about two years ago and had been living at Khon Kaen, not far from Bangkok, police believe. They had checked in just for the one night, the spokesperson said.
Police named the confessed killers as security guard Pongpitak Tapsawang, 29, and cook Prajak Maunjinka, 50. Fisherman Jakkarin Auyen, 30, so far denies involvement.
Horrific
Posted by Tbs on March 14, 2012 12:14