71 year old British man shot dead in Chon Buri
A 71 year old British man was shot dead on a road in Chon Buri province in the early hours of this morning. It is believed that the murder was motivated by an adulterous affair. The police are currently searching for the gunman.
A 29 year old Thai man, Kittikhun, notified the officers at Huay Yai Police Station after he spotted the body and an overturned red motorcycle on Soi Khao Makok 1 Road in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri.
Kittikhun revealed that he rode a motorcycle from a market to his house via the road and found the body. He thought that the foreign man had crashed his motorcycle into something and fell. He only realised after the rescue team and police arrived that the man had been shot dead.
According to the police report, the man was 71 year old Neil Roger. The British man was shot once near the armpit and three more times in the back. Three bullet shells and Roger’s red motorcycle were found near his body.
After identifying the deceased man, the police contacted a 38 year old Thai woman named Thitiphan who was reportedly a close friend and caretaker of the victim.
When Thitiphan arrived at the scene and saw Roger’s body, she broke down in tears.
Thitiphan informed the police that Roger was a former engineer in England and retired to Thailand four years ago. He lived in a village that was located about four kilometres from the incident scene. She added that she has been taking care of him since he retired.
Thitiphan added that Roger went back to England to see his family and relatives late last year and arrived in Thailand two days ago on Wednesday, January 4.
The police reported that they would investigate the shooting in more detail. Initial findings suggest the motive of the murder was an adulterous affair.
Officers believe that the gunman might be someone who had a close relationship with Roger because the killer could easily track the victim even though he had just arrived in Thailand two days before.
The investigating officer promised the suspect would be arrested soon as possible and that it was important members of the international community could come to Thailand and feel safe and protected.
