Youth stabbed to death in Suan Luang Park

PHUKET CITY: In the latest fatality from teenage gang violence, a 17-year-old boy was found stabbed to death inside Suan Luang Park in the early hours of Sunday, March 15.

Phuket City Police received a report of a murder in the park on the emergency hotline (‘191’) at about 1:45 am.

Arriving at the scene with rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation, they found the victim lying face-up in a pool of his own blood on one of the narrow roads inside the park.

The victim, identified by police as 17-year-old Apinan Jandai of Udon Thani’s Muang District, suffered two stab wounds, one in the stomach and one in the back.

His soaking wet corpse was dressed in a black jacket, red shirt and black jeans.

Partially submerged in a nearby pond was the victim’s Phuket-registered Honda Click motorbike.

A trail of blood led from the pond to the point where the body was discovered.

Mr Apinan’s body was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital by volunteer Kusoldharm workers for examination and storage until it can be claimed by the the victim’s relatives.

His motorbike was pulled from the pond and turned over to police as evidence in the case.

Phuket City Police Duty Officer Thada Sodarak said there were eyewitnesses who said they saw the youth pursued by a gang of teenagers on motorcycles who kicked him off his bike, then stabbed him and left him for dead in the pond before fleeing.

Police are still investigating, but have yet to make any arrests in the case.

— Kom Chad Luek