UPDATE
THE Australian couple were scheduled to fly home from Phuket early on Thursday afternoon.
Original Report
PHUKET: A Phuket tourist bashed by taxi drivers in Patong kicked the wrong man in the groin when he retaliated, Phuket Provincial Court heard yesterday.
Australian Peter Hulands, 45, suffered a broken nose and a fractured eye socket in the Patong dispute in the early hours of August 1.
Yesterday's hearing will enable prosecutors to make a decision about whether the case should be pursued while Mr Hulands and his girlfriend, Karyn Louis Connors, who also uses the name Kitty Cartway, can be free to return to Australia.
According to Mr Hulands, the fracas began when a taxi driver said ''Nice pussy'' as Ms Connors/Cartway walked past, wearing an unusual wildcat headcap.
However, Ms Connors/Cartway said she didn't hear the taxi driver's remark.
The pair had just left Rock City in Patong about 2.30am with Ms Connors/Cartway walking ahead of Mr Hulands.
The couple had been out enjoying themselves with friends in Patong since 11.30pm.
After hearing the remark, Mr Hulands said ''Can you speak English'' and grabbed the taxi driver by the throat.
Mr Hulands said he could not remember clearly what happened next.
One of the three men before the court, Sathid Nu-Aupai, admitted punching Mr Hulands after he was grabbed around the throat. All three men agreed they were involved in the melee that followed.
Mr Hulands said he remembered going back across Rat-U-Tit 200 Pi Road to the footpath outside Taipan nightclub. He also recollected going back across the road and delivering a kick in the groin to the man he thought was responsible for the earlier assault.
Methi Ditklan, a motorcycle taxi rider, said he was the man kicked in the groin. He and taxi driver Sithidsan Somnark, together with Khun Sathid, are accused of the bashing.
Mr Hulands told the court that after kicking the man in the groin, he could only remember coming to on the way to Patong Hospital.
The judge asked Mr Hulands: ''Who beat you, can you remember?'' Mr Hulands: ''No, I can't remember.''
The three drivers have admitted being involved in the altercation.
Having given their evidence, Mr Hulands and Ms Connors/Cartway are now free to either fly to Australia today, as their visa expires, or go to Immigration in Phuket City to seek an extension.
It has been reported that Mr Hulands is likely to need extensive facial surgery back in Australia.
He told the court he had already paid 22,000 baht to Bangkok Phuket Hospital in Phuket City for treatment.
At one stage yesterday, Khun Sathid said to Mr Hulands: ''Why didn't you say the same as when you were at the police station.''
Prosecutor Tanawit Wimonphan must now decide whether to pursue the case against the three taxi drivers.
She is wearing a cat hat and the driver said "Nice Pussy" and this drunk gets violent.
Then he goes back and kicks the wrong person.
The more I hear about this case the more it stinks.
Posted by Arthur on August 9, 2012 06:29