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Phuket Ladyboy Kills 'Punchy' Italian Tourist
By Chutima Sidasathian Sunday, April 18, 2010
AN ITALIAN tourist has been killed by a bottle-swinging ladyboy katoey in a wild disturbance at Soi Paradise that highlights the underbelly of Phuket's nightlife.
The killing took place at 5.30am on Saturday morning, more than three hours after Patong's bars are supposed to close.
Police said the Italian, named as Simone Tene Riello, 28, wandered through the renowned heartland of Patong's gay district, close to the Royal Paradise Resort, punching people he had never met or seen before.
But when he hit katoey Sathid Boonnuchit, 34, outside one of the soi's gay bars, he provoked a reaction he did not anticipate. The Italian punched the katoey twice, then Khun Sathid smashed a beer bottle over the head of Mr Riello, according to Colonel Jakapong Luang-On of Kathu police station.
Mr Riello was treated in Patong Hospital for head injuries then sent on about 9am to Vachira Hospital for better treatment. He died there about 10.30am yesterday.
Khun Sathid was arrested yesterday and asked for bail but his paperwork was incomplete so he is being held at the Phuket Provincial Court jailhouse on a charge of murder.
Mr Riello's body is now at Vachira Hospital. Colonel Jakapong said it appeared the man had no friends on Phuket.
A Soi Paradise bar manager was recently arrested after police turned down what they said was her large attempted bribe.
In another recent case, a Singapore man who suffered head injuries after a jet-ski collision was sent first to Patong Hospital, then belatedly on to Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket City, where he underwent urgent surgery for a head injury.
The man's friends told Phuketwan that, given the serious nature of the head injuries, they believe precious time was wasted when Loh Ying Jie, 20, was taken first to the less well equipped Patong Hospital.
Mr Loh died 11 days later in a Singapore hospital without regaining consciousness. One friend may face a serious charge as a result.
Local Thai media first reported that Mr Riello had been stabbed with a broken bottle that severed his jugular.
An Italian internet site, reported: ''Simone was in Phuket in October and worked as a waiter, he went regularly for years to central Thailand, where he had a girlfriend. The girl, say relatives, was with him when the fight broke out, then degenerated into a brawl, in front of the restaurant where the couple worked.
According to relatives, he was a boy with his head on his shoulders, someone who was loved by everyone. "Calm and cheerful, fond of music, tattoos and Thailand,'' remember friends. A woman who ran the Bar Maprang in Patong's Soi Paradise was a major drugs dealer who offered police a bribe of 380,000 baht when she was nabbed, officers allege.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Ladyboys are people to avoid (in every part of the world), however I think this is a big problem in Thailand, where their number are increasing every year. I think there is a problem of public policy, because, often ladyboy annoy even people who are not interested in them. Headlines like these, are "bad noises" for the European public opinion, and certainly they undermine the prospects for growth of Thai tourism.
Editor: Far from being people to avoid, ladyboys are a perfectly normal feature of life in Thailand. A small percentage work in the bars and the sex industry. Thousands of others live and work harmoniously in normal Thai life, and are mostly well-regarded citizens. If the only ladyboys you encounter are the ones in bars and the sex industry, then you have a problem.
Posted by
Firmin
on
April 18, 2010 21:19
When you go punching people anywhere, expect to be taken out rather quickly. Without judging anyone in this, it is still in fact no surprise an attack resulted in a counter attack. That said, why bother trying to act like European opinion matters so much, why can't you folks just fall in with the rest of the world as equals and consider toning down your misguided sense of superiority? He was walking around punching innocent people, did you miss that part?
Posted by
JingJing
on
April 18, 2010 22:57
@Firmin:
"But when he hit katoey Sathid Boonnuchit, 34, outside one of the soi's gay bars, he provoked a reaction he did not anticipate."
You read this sentence and comprehended the contents? As far as I understand this issue, the "annoying" ladyboy was provoked by the actions of a drunken farang who did not know what he was doing. Whatever was the result from the struggle, maybe it is just a result of someone having some drinks too much and not knowing his limits. So maybe in respect of "growth of Thai tourism" the European public should learn to behave like at home, because I am quite sure these people would show different behavior there. It is always a smart idea to think before you act.
Posted by
Fritz Pinguin
on
April 19, 2010 01:01
The fact that Khun Sathid is transgender has nothing to do with this sad event. An idiot was hitting people and Khun Sathid defended herself. I would have done the same thing. I am sorry the young man died, but a murder charge is very wrong. Khun Sathid was punched two times by a complete, crazy stranger. It sounds like self defense. Khun Sathid should not be charged with anything.
Posted by
Doretta
on
April 19, 2010 04:48
It is well known that lady boys have a reputation of being violent and dangerous. That may be a stereotype but from what I have witnessed in my time in Phuket I think it reflects the truth. I would want to see some hard evidence that this man was punching people. It would be easy for people to say that from a biased standpoint. Any way a drunk man acting the fool hardly deserves a solid beer bottle to the head. I hope the correct punishment is dealt but the past tells me it's unlikely.
Editor: Mike, that's an absolute fallacy, total nonsense, and an insult to all non-violent and not-dangerous ladyboys. It's certainly true that ladyboys are often as strong as men, as one would expect. Your viewpoint is seriously impaired.
Posted by
Mike Hunt
on
April 19, 2010 06:42
"If the only ladyboys you encounter are the ones in bars and the sex industry, then you have a problem..."
Well said. Additionally - If a tourist can't behave, then he deserves to be taught a lesson in manners.
Editor: Death is perhaps taking lessons in manners a little too seriously.
Posted by
Stogie Bear
on
April 19, 2010 11:21
I too would like to see some hard evidence that this Italian guy was actually going around punching people randomly. I've been around here way too long to believe everything I hear.
Posted by
BigP
on
April 19, 2010 13:03
Maybe the charge should be excessive self defense. Awfully wrong turn of the night for both involved.
Posted by
Lena
on
April 19, 2010 15:31
Re the editorial content.
Erm, what?
You seem to be contradicting yourself there Phuketwan. You quote the family source saying something very different from your own version of events, and you don't state your source. I mean if the guy was on his own then the katoeys and gays could make up any bizarre story they like can't they. So where do you get your facts from Phuketwan? Sounds to me like you're biassed towards the katoeys to me.
Editor: Well, Cap'n Jack, avast there. We quote the police as our source, and to keep readers fully informed, we've also repeated what is being said at other online sites. Sounds like you're only using the eye under the patch to me. Our only bias is on our lawn bowls. Your bias seems a bit more profound.
Posted by
CaptainJack
on
April 19, 2010 20:44
Well Editor...that could be the problem with your story/report of how events transpired...your source were the Thai police! Who's source in turn, were Thai bystanders at 5 am in a seedy part of Phuket...Thais will always protect Thais regardless of what truth really transpired...regardless, isn't MURDER a tad excessive???
Editor: Your assumption that Thai police and Thai people conspire to distort justice is abhorrent. We have reported more than one version of events because there is more than one version of events. You'd clearly like us to report only your version. Sorry, Q. That's never going to happen.
Posted by
The Quan
on
April 19, 2010 23:28
Who said that italian man punching people?? Who are witnesses? maybe KATOEY friends of Sathid Boonnuchit??
And you think is a good reason for kill a man? i'm scared now to go in Thailand.
Editor: Everywhere in the world has its sad death mysteries but thats not reason not to travel. There is no good reason for killing, and no certain way of knowing that could have been an outcome.
Posted by
Anam
on
April 20, 2010 03:31
But sorry, if a person is drunk and can not understand and will jostle and bother then you can kill? If You Could Kill All the foreign tourists who get drunk and create damage in my country, tourism would not exist! in my country if I am defending, killing a boy drunk and unarmed, I go to jail for life! I'm sorry, because The place is beautiful, too bad These violent ladyboy, ruin the picture! Great affection for the poor Simone!
Posted by
sara
on
April 20, 2010 05:50
Besides the gay and ladyboy bashing, the story has another angle:
Why was he brought to Patong "Hospital" instead of Vachira Hospital. I do not want to speculate, but I really wonder if his injuries had to be fatal. A broken skull is not a death sentence, even bleeding into the brain can be helped, when treated in the first hours.
My guess is, they treated the superficial wounds and only when - after hours - his conditions deteriorated they send him on the long journey to a real hospital. And because this thing happens more then once aka ALL THE TIME with Patong "Hospital", there is a scandal in the open, nobody seems to notice.
Posted by
Lena
on
April 20, 2010 13:34
Sadly to say iwe seen a lot of drunken a-hole tourists playing smart-asses towards the ladyboys, even if the ladyboys never aproached them.
We are here as tourists, and if we don't accept that, we should stay at home, we dont own Phuket just because we have a big wallet...
Posted by
Bat
on
April 20, 2010 15:44
"Your assumption that Thai police and Thai people conspire to distort justice is abhorrent."
ROFLMAO! Please...
Posted by
Len
on
April 20, 2010 17:33
We only have the Police account to go on here. It's sad that the Italian died, and that the Katoey is on a murder charge if it was self defence. Maybe there is more to this than meets the eye? Why did just one Katoey hit this guy? The usual MO is for a mob of five or more to attack. I have seen and heard many a tourist verbally abusing ladyboys, so one lashing out, if abused or punched, is maybe inevitable.
Posted by
Steve
on
April 20, 2010 23:13
Stupid people who generalise that all ladyboys are bad and dangerous. I know plenty of decent, hard-working business people are ladyboys.
Oh, maybe it was a German, or a Gypsy, or an American who said it! LMFAO!
Sad that the friendless Italian had to die, but equally sad that Sathit was charged with murder for self-defense.
Good work, editor!
Posted by
Farang in Thailand
on
April 22, 2010 23:39
sorry sorry...... every body know the agressivity in this case so high!! just this ladyboy have to go in jail.... not just pay 20,000 baht and go out..... this a really place of clowns.... , and probaly the pour Simone pass away because no one can pay the bill in the hospital ...this thailand ....i get the same treat 10 month ago and if i not pay 120,000 baht to the hospital my life going .....! thanks
Posted by
michele
on
April 23, 2010 08:46
It's very sad that somebody ended up dead, but since the tourist attacked Khun Sathid first (twice!!) then this sounds more like a case of self-defence than murder. I mean, what was she supposed to do? Just sit there and wait to see if he'd rape or murder her?
Oh and btw, 'Ladyboys are people to avoid (in every part of the world) Firm': Don't be scared of me - I don't bite (honest;)
Posted by
T-girl
on
April 26, 2010 19:19
"It is well known that lady boys have a reputation of being violent and dangerous."
Mike: Try substituting 'homophobes', 'transphobes' and 'violent drunken men' for 'ladyboys' in that sentence and you'll be just about right.
Posted by
T-girl
on
April 26, 2010 19:23
Who served the alcohol in sufficient quanties that allowed the deceased to become inebriated? If the deceased was walking around Paradise then most likely it was one of the bars there.
However, I do not believe the explanation given. If someone misbehaves in Paradise, the person is usually swarmed by the workers and removed from the area. Been outside the Royal Paradise before and have seen it happen 2X in 5 years.
No one can just go around punching people as was reported. I believe that the story has been adjusted to change some of the key facts of the case. It is not to be unexpected that the police and the local workers would do that.
Were any bars open at the time? If so, why was that so. What is the police position on having bars opened passed the closing hour?
Posted by
Ryan
on
April 26, 2010 20:00
Simone has been there since October and has a girlfriend.They worked together and known to everyone there. Simone could have been provoked by the Thais at the cafe.
Posted by
wawa
on
April 28, 2010 07:15
"Your assumption that Thai police and Thai people conspire to distort justice is abhorrent."
ROFLMAO! Please...
HAHAHA. Agreed Ed you are a lickspittle ingenue
Posted by
stuart
on
April 28, 2010 18:24
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Ladyboys are people to avoid (in every part of the world), however I think this is a big problem in Thailand, where their number are increasing every year. I think there is a problem of public policy, because, often ladyboy annoy even people who are not interested in them. Headlines like these, are "bad noises" for the European public opinion, and certainly they undermine the prospects for growth of Thai tourism.
Editor: Far from being people to avoid, ladyboys are a perfectly normal feature of life in Thailand. A small percentage work in the bars and the sex industry. Thousands of others live and work harmoniously in normal Thai life, and are mostly well-regarded citizens. If the only ladyboys you encounter are the ones in bars and the sex industry, then you have a problem.
Posted by Firmin on April 18, 2010 21:19