Two arrested for Phuket murder
Police have arrested two suspects wanted for the murder of an Australian travel agent and wounding her travelling companion in Phuket on Wednesday night.
National police chief Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong said yesterday Surasak Suwannachote, 26, the suspected killer, was in custody in Chumphon province while Surin Tapthong, 37, who allegedly helped him to flee, was arrested at Ban Phaeo district of Samut Sakhon.
The suspects were taken to Phuket yesterday evening.
Michelle Smith, a 60-year-old travel agent from Perth, and her friend Lynn Tammee Lee, also Australian, were walking back to their hotel in the Karon area around 10.30pm on Wednesday after eating at a restaurant when they were attacked by two bag-snatchers on a motorcycle.
As Smith struggled to hold on to her bag, one of the men stabbed her in the chest. She walked away and then collapsed and died a short time later.
The motorcycle pair fled empty-handed.
Pol Gen Priewpan said police traced the suspects to Chian Yai district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Mr Surasak's home town.
Officers realised Mr Surasak had actually fled to Chumphon and Mr Surin sought shelter in his home town of Samut Sakhon.
Phuket police chief Chonsit Wattanawarangkul said investigators obtained information from a witness saying Mr Surin phoned him to say he had stabbed a foreigner.
The suspect allegedly told the witness that he initially thought the victim was only injured because she had walked away to seek help.
He fled the island after learning the victim had later died.
Police inspected surveillance camera footage from the eatery to identify the suspects.
Police have charged the suspects with plotting to rob and kill others and carrying weapons in a public area.
Pol Gen Priewpan said the suspects have been arrested in drug cases before.
