PHUKET: Three men accused of murdering an American in the 'Hotel California' killing at a Thai tourist holiday town have been granted bail and allowed to walk free, local police said today.
Texan Bobby Ray Carter Jr, 51, was stabbed with a sharpened iron bar in a fight outside the Long Horn Saloon in Ao Nang, Krabi, early yesterday.
Three musicians, who were playing at the bar before a dispute broke out with the American and his son, Adam, 27, have confessed and have been charged with murder, the Commander of Krabi Provincial Police, Major General Nandhadet Yoinon, said today.
''The men have taken part in a reenactment and so we have granted them bail,'' he said. ''We have no problem with this.
''The men have not tried to run away. There has been no attempt to escape.''
Officers from Krabi had been sent to the nearby province of Phuket, the superintendent said, where they planned to interview Adam Carter.
The younger Carter was also stabbed with a sharpened metal rod, the preferred local weapon.
Phuketwan reporters saw Mr Carter in a wheelchair at Bangkok Phuket Hospital in Phuket City today. He was with a woman and another man.
The man, who declined to give his name, said that Mr Carter and his friends did not wish to talk and that any information would come through a lawyer and group spokeswoman in Krabi.
According to the Superintendent of the local police, Colonel Taskin Phonchakarn, the dispute began inside the Long Horn Saloon as the band was finishing its performance.
''The leader told the audience at midnight that the next song would be the last song,'' the superintendent said today.
''A Thai customer asked for a song and the band played that song. Then the Americans asked for one more song, 'Hotel California,''' the superintendent said.
''One of them pulled out some dollars and said 'This is for Hotel California.' But the band had finished its set for the night.
''They put down their instruments and left the bar.''
Words were exchanged inside the bar as the musicians left, the superintendent said.
''When the American group of three men and two women went outside, they found the musicians sitting not far away, just relaxing.
''The American, Adam, said something like 'What the f - - -' then threw a punch at one of the musicians,'' the superintendent said.
The case will be taken to court tomorrow, with the prosecutor interviewing witnesses before the Americans fly home.
It is believed that the drummer, Ratikorn ''T'' Ramin, 27, wielded the sharpened rod in the fight that followed.
Sathit Somsa, 40, and Noppanan Yoddecha, 26, have also been charged with murder.
Last year, British tourists Jack Cole and April Clifton were attacked by a gang on motorcycles as they walked back towards their resort in Ao Nang.
Miss Clifton was able to run to safety but Mr Cole was stabbed several times. He survived the attack but needed treatment for wounds to his face, chest, arms and legs.
A young German woman had a thumb cut off in another attack in Krabi Town. The thumb was later reattached in surgery on Phuket.
Texan Bobby Ray Carter Jr, 51, was stabbed with a sharpened iron bar in a fight outside the Long Horn Saloon in Ao Nang, Krabi, early yesterday.
Three musicians, who were playing at the bar before a dispute broke out with the American and his son, Adam, 27, have confessed and have been charged with murder, the Commander of Krabi Provincial Police, Major General Nandhadet Yoinon, said today.
''The men have taken part in a reenactment and so we have granted them bail,'' he said. ''We have no problem with this.
''The men have not tried to run away. There has been no attempt to escape.''
Officers from Krabi had been sent to the nearby province of Phuket, the superintendent said, where they planned to interview Adam Carter.
The younger Carter was also stabbed with a sharpened metal rod, the preferred local weapon.
Phuketwan reporters saw Mr Carter in a wheelchair at Bangkok Phuket Hospital in Phuket City today. He was with a woman and another man.
The man, who declined to give his name, said that Mr Carter and his friends did not wish to talk and that any information would come through a lawyer and group spokeswoman in Krabi.
According to the Superintendent of the local police, Colonel Taskin Phonchakarn, the dispute began inside the Long Horn Saloon as the band was finishing its performance.
''The leader told the audience at midnight that the next song would be the last song,'' the superintendent said today.
''A Thai customer asked for a song and the band played that song. Then the Americans asked for one more song, 'Hotel California,''' the superintendent said.
''One of them pulled out some dollars and said 'This is for Hotel California.' But the band had finished its set for the night.
''They put down their instruments and left the bar.''
Words were exchanged inside the bar as the musicians left, the superintendent said.
''When the American group of three men and two women went outside, they found the musicians sitting not far away, just relaxing.
''The American, Adam, said something like 'What the f - - -' then threw a punch at one of the musicians,'' the superintendent said.
The case will be taken to court tomorrow, with the prosecutor interviewing witnesses before the Americans fly home.
It is believed that the drummer, Ratikorn ''T'' Ramin, 27, wielded the sharpened rod in the fight that followed.
Sathit Somsa, 40, and Noppanan Yoddecha, 26, have also been charged with murder.
Last year, British tourists Jack Cole and April Clifton were attacked by a gang on motorcycles as they walked back towards their resort in Ao Nang.
Miss Clifton was able to run to safety but Mr Cole was stabbed several times. He survived the attack but needed treatment for wounds to his face, chest, arms and legs.
A young German woman had a thumb cut off in another attack in Krabi Town. The thumb was later reattached in surgery on Phuket.
Granted Bail after confessing to murder?
It seems Krabi (and Thailand) authorities did not learn anything from their former mistakes!
Did they forget the movie clip "Evil Man in Thailand' already?
Posted by Mr. K on August 1, 2013 16:49