Woman found brutally murdered

TUNG TONG: The mutilated body of a woman, believed to be Thai, was found near the Loch Palm Golf Club on Saturday afternoon. Pol Capt Teerarat Choychanchaikul of the Tung Tong Police Station said the victim died of blood loss from six stab wounds – two in her stomach, one in her throat, one in an armpit, one in her side and one in the front of her chest. Her skull was also fractured. The woman, who was found at the edge of a tin mine lagoon to the north of Loch Palm, with the lower half of her body submerged in the lagoon, is estimated to have been 25 to 30 years old. She had shoulder-length hair and was wearing a short-sleeved cream blouse, a blue batik wrap-around sarong, a light pink bra and white underwear. She is thought to have died about 24 hours before her body was found. The body was taken to Wachira Phuket Hospital where an autopsy found no evidence that the woman had been raped, but discovered that, in addition to the stab wounds and fractured skull, she had been sexually mutilated. At the scene, police found evidence of a struggle. They also found a lot of long hair, a great deal of blood, a lady’s watch, a knife with pubic hair stuck to it, and a pair of platform shoes. Investigators also discovered tire marks that they believe were made by a four-wheel drive vehicle, and the footprints of at least two people apart from the victim. Despite this, Capt Teerarat said, “In my opinion, I think there was only one murderer. The evidence suggests that someone tried to throw her into the lagoon but was not strong enough to do so. He only managed to get the lower part of her body into the water, then fled the scene. He said he suspected the murderer was a close friend or boyfriend of the victim. “The couple probably were cruising around and got into an argument during which the murderer lost his temper, stabbed her and then hit her with a rock.” The woman has still not been identified. Anyone with information that may be relevant, or who is worried that the victim may be a missing friend or relative, should contact Tung Tong Police Station at 321182 or 321516.