Crime Two Men Arrested for Fatal Stabbing of Motorcycle Taxi Driver in Udon Thani

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Two men have been arrested for the fatal stabbing of a motorcycle taxi driver in central Udon Thani, following what suspects claimed was a drug-fuelled confrontation over a stolen mobile phone.

 

The incident occurred around 20:30 on 4 May on Prajak Sillapakom Road, directly opposite a mobile phone shop in the Mueang Udon Thani district. Police and rescue teams responded swiftly after being alerted to a stabbing on the pavement.

 

The victim, identified as Mr Kant, 35, a motorcycle taxi driver from Nong Na Kham Subdistrict, was found lying unconscious in a pool of blood, having sustained a stab wound to the left side of his chest. Despite being rushed to Bangkok Hospital Udon Thani, he was later pronounced dead.

 

Witnesses included the victim’s wife, Ms Orathai, deputy manager of a nearby convenience store, who was present at the scene.

 

CCTV footage from a traditional Thai massage shop across the street revealed two men crossing the road towards the victim before an altercation broke out. One of the men was seen stabbing the victim before both fled in the direction of Udon Thani railway station, approximately one kilometre away.

 

By 23:00, police had apprehended the suspects: Mr Patiwat (alias Pon), 27, from Nakhon Ratchasima, and Mr Wuttikorn (alias Boy), 26, from Nakhon Phanom. The arrests followed a phone call from Mr Pon’s wife, Ms Khwanruethai, who helped arrange their surrender. One man was arrested at a nearby rental room and the other outside the train station.

 

Mr Boy confessed to stabbing the victim but claimed it was self-defence, stating the victim had tried to attack him and was injured. He admitted to taking two methamphetamine pills prior to the incident and said the knife was normally used to cut straws for drug use, which he lost while fleeing.

 

Mr Pon also confessed to having taken two meth pills and claimed he had a longstanding grudge against the victim, who he alleged stole a Samsung mobile phone worth 3,000 baht from his room during the Songkran festival. Multiple requests for the phone’s return were allegedly ignored. The confrontation on the night of the stabbing, according to him, escalated when the victim appeared to threaten him.

 

Mr Pon’s wife, Ms Khwanruethai, explained that she and her husband had only planned to visit a local market. The fatal altercation occurred by chance when they encountered the victim on the street. She insisted her husband was not the one who stabbed the man and only tried to reclaim the stolen phone.

 

Police Colonel Patthanawong Janpol, Superintendent of Mueang Udon Thani Police Station, stated that Mr Boy has yet to reveal the location of the knife and clothing used during the attack. Both suspects are being held on charges of jointly causing the death and illegal use of Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine).

 

Ms Khwanruethai has not been charged and is considered a key witness, having cooperated with authorities in arranging the surrender of both suspects.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-05-06.

 

 

 

[dddave]

The video of this killing shown on the TV news clearly shows the perps running across the street to attack the victim.  "Self-defense" doesn't hold water.