Drug-addicted Thai man beheads wife, claims ghost possessed her

A drug-addicted Thai man beheaded his wife at their shared home in the Laplae district of the northern province of Uttaradit, claiming he killed a ghost, not his wife.

Officers from the Laplae Police Station, and local administrative officials, on Sunday, July 28, searched for a 49 year old Thai man named Narin, for the murder of his 49 year old wife, Phattara.

Phattara’s headless body was found outside her home while her head was later found in a chicken coop near the house.

The community leader told police that the couple’s neighbour heard them engaged in a heated argument after drinking alcohol together. Phattara was heard screaming that she could not breathe and then everything went silent.

The neighbour reported the matter to the community leader, who rushed to their home to warn them to lower their voices. Unfortunately, the leader was shocked to see Narin cutting off his wife’s head with a meat cleaver outside their home. The leader chose to hide, fearing for his life, and reported the matter to the police.

Police managed to arrest Narin yesterday morning, July 29, when he returned home due to hunger. Narin tested positive for methamphetamine, also known as Yaba, and he also admitted to drinking alcohol before the murder.

Ghost possession

Narin confessed that he killed his wife and beheaded her but said he meant to chase away a ghost called Phee Ka. This ghost is widely known among Thai people in the northern provinces of Thailand. The ghost is believed to possess humans and likes to eat raw food.

Narin claimed that a ghost had possessed his wife, prompting him to attack it. He believed that the ghost might have attacked him if he hadn’t taken action. Narin expressed regret to his son for his actions. Although he loved his wife and wished he could apologise to her as well, he was unable to do so since she had already passed away. He subsequently urged journalists to stop questioning him.

The police have not disclosed the official charges and penalties against Narin. He is expected to be charged under Section 288 of the Criminal Code for intentional murder. The potential penalties include the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment ranging from 15 to 20 years.

As Narin used drugs, he should also face imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both according to Section 162 of the Narcotics Control Act: using a Category 1 drug (methamphetamine).