THE KILLERS of a Canadian property developer in Patong parked their motorcycle some distance from the scene and strolled to meet their victim, Phuketwan has learned in visiting the scene today.

Usually, professional hired assassins strike from the back of a motorcycle, with the rider ready to make a speedy getaway.

The killers of Canadian property developer Francis Alex Degioanni parked their motorcycle about 60 metres from their target, and walked up the suburban street to their date with death.

It is even possible they had two getaway motorcycles, or a vehicle of a different kind.

It was Thursday evening, about 6.40pm, with dusk about to close in. February 19 marked Degioanni's 34th birthday, and he was all set to join friends who, unknown to him, had prepared a surprise birthday cake.

Outside a new three-storey block of townhouses, Degioanni had just parked his dusty black pickup diagonally, with his lucky 7777 numberplate just visible as the sun set.

Alongside the Degioanni office-home, with its glass windows and vertical blinds, the proprietress of the four-storey My Living Room hotel smiled as she saw the two men approaching, thinking they might be incoming guests.

Degioanni's Thai wife of five months, Nanthawadee Phenjaroenwattana, was out of the pickup and opening the door of the office-home when the two men drew level with the driver's side window.

Degioanni's young child, from a previous relationship, was said to be in the cabin of the pickup.

Not far from the scene, about a kilometre away around a corner and up the hill, is Degioanni's seven-storey Panorama Condo building, where workers were still busy when Phuketwan passed today.

The killer (or killers) fired eight times, the marks of the bullethole entry points revealed today in the vehicle, impounded at Kathu Police Station.

One of several bullets that passed through the metal skin of the vehicle in exiting also pierced the metal rollerdoor shutter of the office next door.

If Khun Nanthawadee had been seated in the car, she would probably have been struck.

The men ran to their getaway vehicle, or vehicles, parked in front of the Bromma guesthouse on the corner, and took off.

The proprietress of the hotel, who smiled at the killers, told police they were most probably Thais but could have been Singaporeans or Philippinos.

The address at 162/11 Soi Ton Village, off Phang-Mung Sai Kor Road, the main road behind Jungceylon shopping mall, parallel to and between Nanai Road and Rat U Thit 200 Pee Road, is a neat suburban zone of new townhouses in a sea of development.

Dust covers everything around here in a fine layer as building projects of all kinds enter different stages of erection. Karaoke bars open alongside apartment blocks.

Closer to Jungceylon, there's a large and garishly decorated bar going in, along with a Thai boxing ring and what appear to be apartments above. Nearby is the Patong Snooker Club.

The neat two-storey townhomes in the block where the Degioannis moved in sometime before New Year are mostly filled with relatively prosperous Thai families.

The village has been open now for two years. One of the original home-makers, at a townhouse nearby, was an eye-witness - or rather, an ear-witness - to the killing.

''Khun Tum'' is as much of a name as he was prepared to give, fearing repercussions from the killers. Here's what he told us:

''I heard a gun go off several times. I heard someone [Khun Nanthawadee] shouting 'Help me! Help me!

''When I ran across the road, I saw her husband lying in the seat of the pickup. I checked his pulse.

''Mister! Mister! I called. But there was no pulse. His wife said 'Help me move him into the passenger's seat so we can drive to hospital.'

''But I said: 'It's no use. He is dead already.' She said: 'Don't say that! He's not dead! Please help!'

''I told her that if we moved the body, we would have problems with the police. Otherwise, the evidence might be disturbed.

''Then a bit later, the police came.

''The Canadian guy seemed nice. His wife had had an international education and dressed well. She could speak English very well and was clearly no bar girl.

''He always seemed to be working every day until midnight or one o'clock.. They were quiet neighbors, never a problem.

''The place inside was very well decorated, a nice place to live. They seemed very happy. They had a housekeeper who stayed there, too.''

As Phuketwan reported early on Saturday, senior police have taken over the investigation after a call from the Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan, for the case to be solved quickly.

Murders involving expats are rare on Phuket.



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