Man dies in wild Saphan Hin brawl

PHUKET TOWN: A 45-year-old man was shot dead and others were wounded as a minor confrontation escalated into a wild brawl at Saphan Hin last weekend. At its height, about 30 people were involved, with at least eight shots fired and long knives being used to slash opponents. When police reached the scene at 2 am on Sunday, the group fled. Officers arrested two people who tried to escape by running into the water, and made nine more arrests later. The victim was named as Samart Boonla-ong, who went to Saphan Hin with a friend, Sawang Jangsee, also 45, to help his son, Siripong Boonla-ong. K. Siripong had gone motorbike-riding with four or five other friends when they were greeted aggressively by another group. He called his father for help. After the older men arrived, the fighting began. K. Samart was slashed on his back and neck with the long knife. K. Sawang was also slashed, across his left shoulder. Three other people were wounded in the brawl. The injured were taken to Bangkok Phuket Hospital and Wachira Phuket Hospital, where K. Samart later died. Eight spent cartridges were found at the scene, near the beach at Saphan Hin, said Pol Capt Rassada Klungwong of Phuket Town Police Station. All 11 arrested people denied guilt and were charged with having caused an altercation leading to a death. Some are being held at Phuket Provincial Prison, the rest at Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center.