Lovers slain during beach tryst

NAI YANG: A couple have died after being brutally attacked yesterday while they were enjoying a secret rendezvous on Nai Yang Beach in the early hours.

Pol Lt Col Sakchai Limchareon, Deputy Superintendent at Tah Chat Chai Police Station, told the Gazette today, “The man was Chian Petcharat, 59, and the woman was Sriprai Chai-intha, 40. Both of them were married to other people, but they had a ‘rendezvous’ at the [beach guard] watchtower on Nai Yang Beach in Sirinath National Park.

“They were attacked by at least three people while they were having sex in the watchtower.

“K. Chian died at the scene, and K. Sriprai was unconscious when she was found. She had fallen out of the watchtower and was lying on the beach. She died on the way to Thalang Hospital,” he said.

A 3-by-3-inch piece of wood was found in the watchtower, he added.

Col Sakchai said that police estimated that the attack occurred about 1:30 am.

“We have questioned the woman’s husband, Nikorn Pratheep Na Thalang, 48, and he has denied killing the couple.

“If our investigation or the results from forensic tests turn up any leads, we should be able to issue a warrant to arrest the killers,” Col Sakchai said.

“We believe the motive for the killings is sexual because the killers did not steal any of the couple’s valuables,” he added.

He said that the victims’ bodies have been returned to relatives so that funerals may be held.

“Forensic tests have yet to be conducted on the evidence that was found at the scene, but we believe we will know the results soon,” he added.