Friday, November 6, 2009

Shooting murder in Phuket flower shop

CHALONG, PHUKET: A middle-aged man found shot to death in a Chalong flower shop early this morning is thought to be the victim of a jealousy-inspired murder.

Police identified the victim as 38-year-old Surat Thani resident Weerathep Kamchan.

Chalong Police received a report of the shooting at about 4:30am from the victim’s alleged mistress, 36-year-old Boonruen Buasi.

Investigators including Chalong Police Superintendent Chinnarat Rittakananond rushed to the scene.

Mrs Buasri told police that while she was sleeping with the victim in a room at the Nong Ploy Flower shop on Chao Fa East Rd, a man entered the room and fired at Mr Weerathep five times.

She described Mr Weerathep’s assailant as a masked man wearing a long-sleeved shirt and carrying a flashlight. After he escaped out the back door she immediately called police, she said.

Mrs Boonruen told police she was the victim’s ‘gig’, a Thai word for casual lover or mistress.

The couple met in Chumphon, where Mrs Boonruen’s husband still resides, she said.

The victim later moved to Phuket to open a motorbike repair shop, and after that the flower shop where Mrs Boonruen’s sister worked.

The sister called her a few days ago to report a mysterious man lurking about the shop, so Mr Weerathep and Mrs Boonruen came to stay there, she told investigators.

However, Mrs Boonruen’s husband had earlier learned about the affair and the two had argued about it.

Police recovered .22-caliber bullet casings at the scene.

There was no evidence of fighting and the back door was left unlocked, allowing the intruder easy access.

Chalong Police continue to investigate.