Phuket Police nab murder suspect

PHUKET TOWN: Police on Saturday arrested a man wanted for the rape and strangling murder of 24-year-old Supercheap employee Thipkasen ‘Khwan’ Heep-phech last month.

The suspect, identified as Nakhon Sri Thammarat native Sutthiporn ‘Khao’ Morasin, was arrested as he tried to leave the island at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint at 5pm on Saturday.

He has denied all of the charges.

Witnesses told police Mr Sutthiporn, 25, lived next door to Miss Khwan at the Laem Hin Home apartment block in Koh Kaew.

He was wanted for questioning in the case soon after Miss Khwan’s body was found in her room on February 24.

Mr Sutthiporn was presented to the media along with other recently arrested suspects during a press conference at Phuket City Police Station this morning.

The conference, presided over by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong and Phuket City Police Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit, was cut short when the power supply in the meeting room failed.

A press release distributed at the beginning of the event contained few details about how police apprehended Mr Sutthiporn.

Witnesses told police earlier that Mr Sutthiporn and his victim had been in a relationship that soured for financial reasons.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan