Mystery over murdered woman

RASSADA: Police are investigating the stabbing murder of an unidentified woman whose decaying corpse was discovered near the Sri Suchart Grand Ville 2 housing estate off the bypass road yesterday.

Phuket City Police Investigator Pol Lt Col Tewet Preamsook told the Gazette today that the discovery of the body was reported in a telephone call by Chalong resident Arkom Na Takuatung at about 6 pm yesterday.

At the scene, off the Kuandindang-Samkong road, investigators found the victim, an Asian woman of about 40 years of age, lying face down.

The victim was barefoot, dressed in a yellow T-shirt, blue jacket and white pants. She had been stabbed six times in the face and neck. One of two stab wounds to her forehead cracked her skull. Police estimated she had been dead about three days before the discovery of her body.

Investigators found no physical evidence at the crime scene apart from two bloodstained stones near the victim’s face.

Col Tewet said his department had reviewed missing person reports, but had thus far been unable to identify the victim – making further investigation difficult.

Pol Maj Aikasit Pinkaew told the Gazette that the woman may have been abducted, robbed and killed before being dumped in the remote location, known as Khao Hua Loan, in Rassada Mu 6.

The body was sent to Wachira Phuket Hospital for examination. It will be held there pending identification and collection by relatives.