Man dies after sword attack at Karon home following drinking dispute
A man died after being attacked with a sword outside a house in Karon, Phuket, after a dispute that police said began during a drinking session and continued at the suspect's home.
A 48-year-old man died after he was attacked with a bladed weapon outside a house on Patak Road in Karon in the early hours of June 4, police said.
Police in Karon said they were notified at about 4.30 a.m. of an assault that left a man seriously injured in front of a residence in tambon Karon, Mueang district, Phuket. Officers arrived to find the victim lying in a pool of blood with multiple wounds from a sharp weapon across his body. Rescue workers gave first aid before taking him to Chalong Hospital.
The homeowner, identified as Supakit, waited for police at the scene, surrendered and admitted using a sword to attack the injured man, according to police. He handed the weapon to investigators as evidence and was taken to Karon Police Station for legal proceedings.
Investigators later learned from hospital staff that the victim, identified as Sornchai Prateep Na Thalang, 48, had died from his injuries.
Police said the body was sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital for further examination while investigators gathered evidence and continued questioning witnesses.
According to the initial police investigation, Sornchai had been drinking alone at home before Kritsada, 38, called and invited him to drink with friends at a restaurant near a wholesale store at Rawai Beach. Supakit later rode a motorcycle to the restaurant and drank with the group.
During the gathering, an altercation broke out. Police said Sornchai grabbed Supakit by the neck near the restaurant bathroom, leaving Supakit angry and prompting him to return home.
Police said Kritsada and Sornchai then drove to Supakit's house, parked outside and shouted for him to come out and talk, waking his wife and child. A heated argument followed, and Sornchai and his friend allegedly assaulted Supakit despite attempts by Supakit's wife and father to stop the confrontation.
Supakit told the group to leave and went back into the house, police said. Sornchai then followed him inside to continue the dispute. With Supakit's wife standing in the way while holding a small child, Supakit took a sword from inside the house and attacked Sornchai and the others, police said.
Another injured man, 37-year-old Praphat, a neighbor of Supakit who tried to intervene, suffered a cut to his right heel.
Police said Supakit has been charged with causing bodily harm resulting in death and was taken to the Phuket Provincial Court for detention. Forensic officers later examined the sword and collected additional evidence, including blood traces, hair and other material, from the house.
