PHUKET: Police are hunting for a Phatthalung man wanted for stabbing 35-year-old Wanchai Butdee in front of his shop in Phuket Town today (May 6).
Lt Col Wichit Nokkaew, Deputy Chief of Phuket City Police, was notified of the stabbing at around 1.30am today (May 6). According to the report, a man was badly injured in a street conflict and later died at Phuket Provincial Hospital (locally called the ’OrBorJor Hospital’).
Having arrived at the hospital, officers learned the deceased was Wanchai Butdee, 35, owner of the ’Kinnaree Nam’ ice shop, located right in front of ’OrBorJor Hospital’.
Mr Wanchai was attacked by a male suspect armed with a knife. The criminal came to the scene in a white Mistsubishi Triton truck, approached Mr Wanchai and immediately attacked the shop owner stabbing him in the face and neck. The suspect then fled the scene in the same pickup truck.
Police identified the suspect as Tharapong Nabbua, 34, originally from Phatthalung. The man remained at large as of time of the report.
Having questioned other people, investigators learned that Mr Wanchai had a conflict with Mr Tharapong three days before the attack. According to witnesses, Mr Tharapong was drinking beer in front the ’Kinnaree Nam’ shop while waiting for his motorcycle to be repaired in a shop next door.
The man didn’t like how Mr Wanchai looked at him and a heated verbal argument followed. The fight was prevented by some other people who interfered. Three days later Mr Tharapong came to ’Kinnaree Nam’ and attacked Mr Wanchai upon seeing him.
