Fisherman murdered on boat

PHUKET TOWN: A man believed to have been a Burmese fisherman was found murdered yesterday morning on the fishing boat “Thavorn 4” at the Sri Sena fishing port. Pol Lt Parichat Jaturonphan of Phuket Town Police Station told the Gazette that crew on the boat found the victim lying on his back in their sleeping quarters. He was wearing a black T-shirt and jeans. The police estimate he was around 20 to 25 years old. He had been stabbed in the stomach 13 times with what police believe was a sharpened piece of steel reinforcing bar. He had been dead for at least six hours before his body was found. Police also found some rolled up paper near the victim, which appeared to have been used as a bag for the murder weapon. Lt Parichat said, “The crew told us that the boat arrived at the port in the evening, and that no one stayed aboard that night. The body was discovered only when they returned the following morning. They also said that they don’t know the victim.” Lt Parichat added, “We believe that the victim may have been chased onto the boat from somewhere else, and that the killer followed him aboard and stabbed him to death.”