Friend turns killer as Burmese argue

PHUKET TOWN: Police are hunting a Burmese seaman after an argument between friends that ended with a murder at the weekend. Residents near the entrance to the fish processing plant on Si Sena Rd told police that one friend stabbed the other in the back about 2 am on Saturday. Phuket Town Police Station officers found the body of a 26-year-old man known only as “Da” lying on his back in a pool of blood. He was a sailor on the boat, Chokpaiboon 5, which was moored at Rassada Port. Da had been walking back to the port with a friend, “Ruay”, who also worked on the boat. Along the way, Da and Ruay had an argument. Witnesses said Ruay grabbed Da’s head from behind, took out a knife and stabbed him once. Da sank to his knees immediately. Ruay looked at Da for a while, then ran away, said witnesses. Police have informed the owner of the boat that Da’s body awaits collection. The fishing port area is an infamous dumping ground for Burmese fishermen who are usually killed elsewhere.