THE BODY of Francis Alex Degioanni, a Canadian property developer shot dead in his pickup in Patong on February 19, was sent to Bangkok on Tuesday for an autopsy, police say.

Phuket Governor Dr Preecha Ruangjan told Phuketwan that urgent action was need in this case because of the possible effect on tourism to the island.

He was monitoring the progress of the investigation closely, he said, since it reflects on Phuket's stability and security.

Meanwhile, Tung Thong police are still gathering clues to the beating death of British businessman Ian Kenneth Stuart, who was found dead in his office shophouse near Tesco-Lotus on February 23.

In another high-profile case, two arrest warrants were issued last week for the drive-by shooting murder of Phuket restaurateur Chid ''Kit'' Raknang last month, but both suspects remain at large, police say.

One suspect is a well-known professional hitman believed to be behind "many" murders around the country, police say.

Expats on the island cannot recall a period when three such prominent murders were being investigated at the same time.

The killing of Norwegian Simen Knudsen, at Rawai in 2007, apparently with robbery as a motive, drew international attention. So did the daylight murder of Swedish tourist Hanna Backlund at Mai Khao beach in 2008.

A local man was swiftly arrested and put behind bars for Ms Backlund's murder. Mr Knudsen's case remains unsolved.

While the deaths of expats on the island are often highlighted, even in cases of heart attack or suicide, the actual risks of a violent end seem no greater than in the homelands of most visitors.

Many statistical distortions occur because, while the numerical comparisons are struck with other parts of Thailand on the basis of the island's official population of 320,000, the actual population is at least twice that, and much greater still if tourists are included.



The victim: Ian Kenneth Stuart, 60, British expat, a financial adviser with St James Properties Co, Ltd.
The crime: Murder by battery.
Date: February 23
The scene: Victim's office, a shophouse opposite Tesco-Lotus on the bypass road, Phuket City
The motive: Still being investigated.
Investigating: Tung Thong Police.
New developments: Police told Phuketwan that investigators are checking CCTV cameras at the shophouse office project where Mr Stuart's body was found. They are also looking into his background to determine possible motives and suspects.

The victim: Francis Alex Degioanni, 34, Canadian property developer living in Phuket.
The crime: Shooting murder.
Date: February 19
The scene: In the victim's pickup truck parked outside of his home-office in Soi Ton Village, Patong.
The motive: Police are looking into financial disputes with a business partner as one possible motive.
Investigating: Kathu Police, with Phuket Police Commander Major General Apirak Hongtong overseeing the case.
New developments: An autopsy is being performed on the body in Bangkok. The Montreal Gazette interviewed Mr Degioanni's father and reports that "for the past few months, his son had become increasingly nervous during the phone calls he made to his parents twice a week. 'There had been problems with a former partner, the disappearance of about $750,000,' he said. He said things came to a head when his son called last month to tell him he'd been hospitalized because someone had tried to poison him."

The victim: Chid ''Kit'' Raknang, owner of Farang restaurant in Phuket City.
The crime: Shooting murder.
Date: January 18
The scene: At the victim's restaurant, Farang 2, opposite Index Furniture off the bypass road, Phuket City.
The motive: Police believe a business dispute with one of the suspects, a rival business owner, is behind the murder.
Investigating: Phuket City Police.
New developments: Arrest warrants were issued last week for two men. Police decline to reveal the names of the suspects, but the man believed to have pulled the trigger is from Phattalung, while the man believed to have ordered the hit is from Phuket, police say. The Phattalung man is known to police as a professional killer and being investigated for several murders in Thailand, Phuket City Police Chief Wanchai Ekpornpit told Phuketwan. Both men are believed to have fled Phuket and police are trying to determine their whereabouts. Pol Col Wanchai said arrests would be made soon.



Police Probe Expat Murder near Tesco Lotus
Police are investigating two murders of expats connected with the property industry following the killing of a British man in Phuket City. There is no obvious link between the cases.
Police Probe Expat Murder near Tesco Lotus

Patong Killers Strolled to Date with Death
Photo Album How did it happen? Phuketwan went to the scene of the killing of a Canadian property developer in Patong and pieced together details of the murder.
Patong Killers Strolled to Date with Death

Update: Phuket Shooter Kills Expat Developer
Updated report An expat resident has been shot dead in Patong, police have told Phuketwan. The victim was a 34 year old property developer from Canada.
Update: Phuket Shooter Kills Expat Developer

Farang Killing: Arrest Warrant Issued
Two suspects accused of killing the Farang restaurant chain proprietor have been named in an arrest warrant issued by police in Phuket City.
Farang Killing: Arrest Warrant Issued