Drug-crazed Phuket man charged with killing grandmother

PHUKET: A man who allegedly murdered his 74-year-old grandmother while high on drugs was arrested on Thursday after a violent confrontation with police.

The arrest followed the death of Jintana Chairab, who suffered severe head injuries when her grandson attacked her; repeatedly banging her head on the ground at her house in Kathu, according to eye-witnesses, said Thung Thong Police Supertintendent Chawalit Petchsripia.

Police received a report of the incident at about 3am Thursday. Ms Jintana was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at about 7:45am the same day.

Police served Mr Narupon with an arrest warrant at his Rassada residence later that afternoon.

“Mr Narupon threatened officers with a knife,” Col Chawalit said. “Even after we seized the knife, he kept on punching and resisting arrest. It took about ten minutes to finally get him in control.”

Mr Narupon accepted the charges, saying he was high on methamphetamine (ya bah), confirmed Col Chawalit.

Police charged Mr Narupon with assault causing death, resisting arrest with a weapon, and carrying a weapon in public without reasonable cause.

Mr Narupon did not have any illegal drugs on him at the time of his arrest so police did not bring any drug-related charges against him.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong