Briton arrested for murder

CHALONG: Briton Michael John Taylor, 40, who was last week questioned by police and then released, has been arrested on a charge of murdering his girlfriend on August 17.

Police say they have statements from eight people confirming their belief that Taylor, known locally as “Mick the Pom”, murdered 27-year-old Jantra Weangta at the home they shared in Chalong.

Pol Maj Jessada Sangsuree, inspector of Chalong Police Station, told the Gazette, “We have eight statements that suggest Mr Taylor is the murderer. The court issued an arrest warrant, but he still denies the accusation.”

Maj Jessada said that Taylor claims that, around the time K. Jantra is estimated to have been killed, he was drinking at the Moonlight Bar in Karon and then having sex on the beach with a katoey, 21-year-old Fonnoi Khonsau.

Taylor asserts that he found K. Jantra dead on the bed when he and K. Fonnoi went to the house.

K. Jantra died from a single stab wound to the heart. Nearby, police found a large Bowie knife and a pair of bloodstained trousers.

“Taylor is being held in Phuket Provincial Prison,” Maj Jessada said.