German stabbed to death in Phuket

RAWAI, PHUKET: A German expat was stabbed to death last night outside a 7-Eleven shop on a busy road in Rawai.

The dead man has been identified as 66-year-old Eugen Wolf-Dieter, a resident of Ban Saiyuan in Rawai.

Police are on the hunt for three teenage suspects who beat and stabbed Mr Wolf-Dieter before fleeing on a motorbike.

From their initial investigations, police said Mr Dieter was driving his Toyota Vigo pick-up south along Chao Fa Road West.

As he reached Chalong Circle, a pink Yamaha Fino driving against the flow of traffic suddenly cut across his path and drove onto the Chalong Pier road, just missing Mr Wolf-Dieter’s truck, witnesses said.

Witnesses said Mr Wolf-Dieter got angry, shouted at the boys and then gave them the middle finger.

Chalong Police Duty Officer Anukul Nuket received the report of the stabbing at 7:40pm.

“The riders got angry, so they had an argument with the German and followed him until he stopped the truck at the scene,” he said.

A fight ensued during which the German was stabbed in his chest and stomach, he said.

The three suspects fled on their bike south toward Rawai Beach.

By the time police arrived, rescue workers from Phuket Rumjai Kupai Foundation had already rushed Mr Wolf-Dieter to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, but he died en route.

As of 11am today, Chalong Police were still searching for the assailants.

— Gazette Reporter