A 54-year-old man was drinking with friends when he saw an old rival riding past on a motorcycle. He called him over to scold him and pretended to threaten stabbing him with a knife. The rival then returned on his motorcycle and slashed the man's neck nearly severing it, resulting in death. Ban Khai police quickly arrested the suspect, who admitted guilt, citing a grudge after being challenged.
At 13:00 on 24 Sep 2016, Lieutenant Kusuma Thanito, Deputy Investigation Officer of Ban Khai Police Station, Rayong Province, received a report of a stabbing incident with a fatality at a row of rental rooms behind a soi in Chak, Village No. 1, Chak Bok Subdistrict, Ban Khai District. She, accompanied by Colonel Jirawat Saksriwatana, Deputy Commander of Rayong Provincial Police, Colonel Pramot Khongkalai, Chief of Ban Khai Police, Lieutenant Sakol Suwanjaroen, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Ban Khai Police, Corporal Preecha Mahasen, Deputy Forensics Officer of Rayong, and the duty doctor from Ban Khai Hospital, went to investigate.
The scene was a single-story concrete house divided into 3-4 rental rooms, with the incident occurring in the end room. The victim, Boonmee, also known as Tee Srichakham, 54, from Village 11, Srisongkhram Subdistrict, Wang Saphung District, Loei Province, was found collapsed dead on the floor outside the rental room. He wore black shorts and a long-sleeved blue shirt. Blood pooled on the floor. There was a severe, almost severing stab wound to his neck. Nearby, a wooden bed frame held scattered bottles, glasses, and dishes.
There was also a charcoal stove and a grill, suggesting food had been prepared to accompany the drinks. Officials photographed the scene for evidence before the Ban Khai Hospital doctor conducted a post-mortem examination.
During questioning, 53-year-old Suthep Nokhong, a friend of the victim, said they had been drinking together with another friend when Thanakorn, also known as Ern, 39, passed by on a motorcycle. The victim called him over to confront him about an assault from years before and pretended to threaten stabbing him with a knife. Ern then fled on his motorcycle. Fearing Ern would seek revenge, Suthep placed a hoe nearby. After running an errand for his wife for about 45 minutes, he returned to see Ern and his friend, Anan, or Nan, 35, riding out on motorcycles, with Ern carrying a long knife. Suthep then found the victim with a nearly severed neck lying in a pool of blood.
Police initially secured the scene and collected evidence before sending the body for detailed forensic examination. They planned to continue investigating and interrogate the two suspects to determine the true cause.
Later at 18:30, Colonel Apichanan Wattanawarangkul, Chief of Investigation for Rayong Province, Colonel Pramot Khongkalai, Chief of Ban Khai Police, Lieutenant Sakol Suwanjaroen, Deputy Chief of Investigation, and the investigation team arrested Thanakorn, or Ern, and his friend at a relative's home near the crime scene. They seized the long knife used in the attack and brought the suspects for questioning at Ban Khai Police Station regarding the motive.
Thanakorn confessed that the incident was triggered by being challenged and an attempted stabbing by the victim. He said that after passing by and seeing the victim drinking outside the rental room, the victim called him over, accusing him of prior assault and trying to stab him with a knife. Thanakorn fled but returned with a long knife and a friend, got off the motorcycle, and aimed strikes at the victim’s head. He could not recall how many times he struck but admitted guilt, stating he acted out of revenge after being challenged and threatened first.
Police have formally handed the suspects over to Ban Khai Police investigators to proceed with legal action according to the law.