Bitter lover murders rival

PHUKET CITY: A birthday party turned bloody in the early hours of Monday morning when local painter Sorapong Waimitta, 28, was stabbed to death in what police believe was a love crime.

Lt Col Somkid Boonrat, investigation inspector at Phuket City Police Station, told the Gazette that K. Sorapong was drinking with his brother and about 10 male friends, one of whom was celebrating his birthday, when the incident happened.

They were drinking by the side of the road along Klong Bangyai, near Phuket Vocational College in Saphan Hin, when three men arrived on motorcycles just after midnight, he said.

One of the men walked up to the party and asked to speak to K. Sorapong, said Col Somkid.

K. Sorapong and the other man walked away from the party and began talking, then the man pulled a knife and stabbed K. Sorapong twice in the chest, he explained.

The perpetrator then ran back to his friends and the three men fled on their motorbikes, he added.

K. Sorapong was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital by motorbike, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 12:45 am.

“Our investigation revealed that K. Sorapong had some problems with the offender over a relationship with the same girl.

“We have applied for an arrest warrant because we were able to identify the offender after questioning the victim’s friends and brother,” said Col Somkid.

The killer is known as “Thong” and lives near Surakul Stadium on Wichit Songkram Rd, he added.