Sailor killed, dumped at sea

PHUKET TOWN: The body of a man who had been stabbed 15 times was found in the fishing port of Soi Si Sena at the weekend. Police received a phone call from a local fisherman at about 1:30 pm on Saturday and found the body of the unidentified man floating in the water, said Pol Lt Parichat Jaturonpun of Phuket Town Police Station. The man, wearing a black T-shirt and black jeans, was estimated to be 30-35 years old, and police said he had been killed two days earlier. He had been stabbed in the chest eight times and in the back seven times. Police suspect he was a fishing boat crewman who became involved in a quarrel that ended with his death. They believe his body was then heaved overboard. This is the first body found in the fishing port area this year. According to records, which the police admit may be incomplete, there were 15 murders in the area last year. Fourteen such murders were recorded in 2000.