Man stabbed to death in bar brawl

KATA: One man was stabbed to death and another was badly injured in a brawl in front of the Easy Rider pub on Taina Rd in the early hours of Sunday morning. Pol Capt Teerawat Liamsuwan of Chalong Police Station told the Gazette that he received a call at about 2 am, telling him about the brawl. Arriving at the scene, officers found Phuwanai Somprom, 20, and Chaiwut Yodkaew, 30, both stabbed in the chest. They were taken to Patong Hospital, where K. Chaiwut was pronounced dead on arrival. He explained that the brawl started after Chaiwut, Phuwanai and about five friends tried to go into the Easy Rider pub at about midnight. A doorman at the pub, known as Bud Easy, refused entry to one of the group on the grounds that he was underage. This started an argument, but calm soon returned and Chaiwut and his friends went to drink in the nearby Number One Bar instead. Later on, Capt Teerawat said, Bud and three friends walked into the Number One Bar. One of the friends, Badindech Malitong, slapped Chaiwut across the face, sparking an all-out brawl. Two passing police officers attempted to break up the fight. While the two groups were being separated, Chaiwut noticed that Phuwanai’s feet were bleeding because he had stepped on a broken bottle during the brawl. This angered Chaiwut, and he walked over to Badindech and demanded that he apologize to Phuwanai. Badindech refused, and the fight started again, said Capt Teerawat . This time, Bud pulled out a knife and stabbed both Chaiwut and Phuwanai in the chest. As police reinforcements arrived, he fled the scene. Officers gave chase, but were unable to catch him. Badindech, however, was arrested and taken to Chalong Police Station where he was charged with affray causing death. Capt Teerawat said that Bud Easy currently remains at large, but called the police station this afternoon to say that he wanted to turn himself in.