Phuket stabbing: Restaurant worker claims self-defence in fatal incident

A fatal stabbing incident unfolded in Phuket yesterday morning, resulting in the death of a 33 year old man. The 28 year old man, Arnon Thepsong, a restaurant staffer, has been arrested under charges of assault causing death and carrying a weapon in a public place without reasonable cause. However, he asserts that the act was committed in self-defence.

The victim, Wirun Inya, a driver for the Phuket Provincial Commercial Office, was found lifeless in a hotel car park on Kra Rd, along the Bang Yai Canal, at 6am yesterday. The investigators deduced that his death had occurred several hours before the body was discovered. He had been stabbed in his left chest and had an additional wound on his back.

Evidence led the police to a restaurant around 500 metres away from the murder scene, where blood stains were found. Upon questioning the staff and scrutinising the CCTV footage, the police zeroed in on Arnon, a staffer at the restaurant.

In his defence, Arnon reported the Phuket stabbing incident saying that Wirun was in an intoxicated and belligerent state at the restaurant, troubling other customers and throwing a bottle at the canal embankment.

When the staff intervened, Wirun responded with physical violence. Fearing for his safety, Arnon claimed to have used the knife, which he carried for personal protection, to fend off Wirun’s attack. However, he insists that he stabbed Wirun only once before fleeing.

Arnon confessed to discarding the knife in the Bang Yai Canal before escaping on his motorbike. He maintains that he intended no harm to Wirun and his actions were purely in self-defence.

The incident has prompted Police Colonel Pratheung to urge all operators of restaurants and nightlife venues to enforce stricter rules prohibiting patrons from carrying weapons onto the premises.

Despite Arnon’s claim of self-defence, he has been charged with causing death by assault and carrying a knife without a reasonable cause in a public place, reported Phuket News.

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