Norwegian Dies After Knife Attack

[baabaabobo]

Knudsen murder suspects arrested - The Phuket Gazette

CHALONG: Two teenagers arrested by police have reportedly confessed to the stabbing murder of Norwegian Simen Sparre Knudsen on September 23, along with several other armed robberies of foreign tourists driving motorbikes alone late at night.

A source from Chalong Police, who requested that his name not be printed, identified the two suspects as 18-year-old Narongsak “Sak” Tongviset and his half-brother Pong, 16, whose full name cannot be printed because he is a minor.

Both youths are registered as residents of Surat Thani’s Phunphin District, but live in Kathu, where their common father is a taxi driver.

A third suspect, 18-year-old Theerapat Saivaree, remains at large. Police said he is originally from Satun Province, but has lived in Phuket for many years. Police believe he hiding somewhere on the island.

After their arrests, the brothers admitted to using the same approach in this robbery that they had in previous attacks: arriving on two motorbikes, parking on a dark section of road late at night and yelling abuse at their target, always a foreign tourist alone on a motorbike.

If the tourist slowed down or stopped, they would force him or her from the motorcycle then beat the tourist into submission using Thai boxing skills all three had acquired from a local Muay Thai camp. Then they would rob the tourists of all his or her valuables and ride off on their stolen motorbike, they said.

The main break in the case followed from sharp police work, coupled with some good luck and sheer stupidity on the part of the suspects.

At about 11:30 pm on September 27, just days after the murder of Knudsen, the three youths held up a Swiss tourist riding a rented red-and-black Honda Click motorbike on the dark stretch of the road from Patong to Karon, near the entrance to Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort.

The hilly stretch of road near Le Meridien has been the site of numerous robbery reports over the years, in part because it is dark and hilly and must be passed by tourists returning to Karon after a night of reveling in Patong.

The section also lies just before the border with Kathu District and thus falls under the jurisdiction not of the nearby Kathu Police Station but of the Chalong Police, whose headquarters are some 15 kilometers away.

The motorcycle stolen from the Swiss man was rented to him by a policeman, Pol Sen Sgt Maj Boonler Samngamya, who heads a Chalong Traffic Police unit and operates a small motorcycle rental agency in Karon.

Although he was unaware that the bike he had rented to the Swiss tourist a few days before had been stolen, with the sharp eye of a traffic cop he recognized a passing Honda Click bearing the red license plate “39-513” as his own as he stood on the side of Wichit Songkraam Rd in the Ketho area of Kathu at about 7 pm on September 29.

Curious, he decided to trail the driver, Pong, and his companion, Sak, riding pillion. He followed the pair as they turned south onto Chao Fa West Rd near Central Festival and continued to tail them all the way to the entrance of Soi Nai Trog in Chalong Village 5.

It was there that the out-of-uniform officer pulled alongside the pair and ordered them to stop. When they sped up Sgt Boonler gave chase, eventually pulling alongside them and kicking the bike to the ground.

He arrested Pong, who was found in possession of a replica pistol, but Sak managed to escape into a nearby rubber plantation and evade the five-hour police manhunt that followed.

Using a police sketch based on a description given by his half brother, Phuket City Police arrested Sak riding another motorbike around Borrae Village, Ao Makham, on September 30. He was found in possession of an unregistered pistol and a knife, which he later allegedly confessed to having used to stab Mr. Knudsen, 53.

A subsequent search of their home at 115/163 Village1 in Tambon Kathu ended in the seizure of several other motorcycles that had been stolen in similar fashion, the source said.

The two brothers and their accomplice had all previously served time in the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center. Pong had been released just a few months ago after a one-year theft conviction.

The source said that once in custody, the two brothers said that to rob Mr Knudsen they had to punch him repeatedly in the face, kick him hard in the groin and stab him twice. They said they left in the middle of the road from the Kata Viewpoint to Rawai about 1 am on September 23. He was rushed to Phuket International Hospital, where he later died.

The killing of Mr Knudsen, a resident of Phuket for over 30 years, has been headline news in the Norwegian press.

Although the murder has been overlooked or ignored by the Bangkok-based English language media, safety issues regarding foreign tourists who visit Phuket and expats who have chosen to reside here have again been raised.

Mr Knudsen’s widow Sommaai Knudsen, 39, arrived at Chalong Police Station with her 13-year-old son Chanon Knudsen to personally congratulate the officers responsible for their excellent work in arresting two of the three boys responsible.

[bangkokrick]

Thanks for taking the time to translate the story Balo. Your English is very good and i now understand clearly what happened.

Its strange that this has not been covered by the local news as its such a tradgedy.

Sympathy to the family and friends.

Rick

[sriracha john]

Savage beating and murder.... and for what? some baht and a scooter...

and with such limited coverage in Thailand.....

Sad and distressing on many levels...

[fiddlehead]

So, What is the reason we are not reading about this in the Gazette?

Is it because they want the world to think that Thailand is "lilly-white" and nothing bad ever happens here?

If so, why call themselves a "newspaper" shame on them.

Do you think the TAT is asking them to keep it quiet?

Yes, this is a most unfortunate death.

Thank you very much babadoodoo. (strange name though)

[baabaabobo]

It is in the Gazette! see 3 posts above - and the name is baabaabobo which is a Thai slang word for crazy

[fiddlehead]

Ooops Sorry! My apologies to the Gazette.

[geriatrickid]

The business of newspapers is to sell newspapers. It is not to inform or, educate.

WRONG. Selling a newspaper is but one item

Please take the time to read the mission statements of a few newspapers.

Here's the Bangkok Post

Mission statement

1. The Company, through its Board of Directors and Management, is committed to responsibly serve the community, the country and the region, through the upholding of the quality and reputation of its products and perpetuating a successful media business. The Board safeguards the interests of all stakeholders — readers, advertisers, shareholders, employees, suppliers — and the community. The Board is responsible for determining that the Company is managed in such a way as to ensure the achievement of their business objectives. This is an active responsibility, as is the promotion and development of the strategic activities of the Company as a value-added information packager and provider. The Board thus has the responsibility of ensuring that Management is capable of fulfilling its responsibilities under continuously changing economic situations, and regularly monitors the effectiveness of management decisions, controls on costs and efficiency, and the execution of its strategy and policies.

The Board sees compliance with the requirements of Good Corporate Governance and prudent risk assessment, and the pursuit of good internal controls and procedures utilising the services of an Internal Audit Department reporting to the Audit Committee, as essential.

2. The Company recognises its responsibilities, specifically with regard to its main products, the Bangkok Post and Post Today, as follows:

(a) To provide its readers with an up-to-date, reliable news coverage of both international and local events, with a responsible and unbiased commentary of high standard and relevant topicality.

b To serve its advertisers with high-quality production of their advertisements to the public, guaranteeing compliance with the certificate of an independent verification of its circulation by a reputable outside agency (Bangkok Post only).

With regard to its other media interests, the Company shall maintain its policy of ensuring a high standard of production and content.

3. As far as its stakeholders are concerned, the Company's policy is to ensure a fair and reasonable treatment of all:

(a) Shareholders

The aim is to maintain and enhance the value of their share investment and to ensure a reasonable and acceptable return.

(b Employees

The Company's aim is to provide its employees — which it recognises to be one of the prime assets of the company — with fair and competitive conditions of service, a high degree of job satisfaction and career opportunities, job security, and a high standard of safety.

This includes training, chances for promotion, high-value fringe benefits such as medical care and adequate retirement scheme provisions, leisure facilities, etc.

It also entails employee involvement in their career planning.

In sum, it is the Company's aim to maintain a good relationship with all levels of staff, and to act in good faith in its dealings with their representatives.

(c) Suppliers

The Company aims to maintain good relationships with all its suppliers by being fair in negotiating contracts and payment terms in a competitive bidding climate.

(d) Joint-venture Partners

The Company wishes to treat its partners — and indeed wishes itself to be so treated — fairly and in line with the spirit of its agreements and to be reasonable in its interpretation of the various clauses of these agreements. Mutual trust and respect and adherence to the letter and spirit of agreements are necessary elements for the proper functioning of a successful partnership.

(e) The Community

The Company wishes to play a full and positive role as a respectable member of society. In its conduct of business, the Company respects all applicable laws and regulations, complying with all requirements with regard to licences, permits, operating conditions, and environmental considerations, whether required by law or by a reasonable regard for nature and others, and to support initiatives from both the government and private sectors and/or persons which contribute to the well-being of society, within the framework of its ability.



As you can see, significantly more is involved then just selling the newspaper.

Edited October 3, 2007 by geriatrickid

[qualtrough]

Perhaps I missed it, but I think the cops in Phuket deserve congratulations for catching the culprits so quickly. For all their faults, the cops here generally have a better record of solving serious crimes against farangs than they do Thais.

[Sir Burr]

^^

If you believe that, you probably believe in Santa, too.

I stand by my statement.

Edited October 3, 2007 by Sir Burr

[LivinLOS]

Perhaps I missed it, but I think the cops in Phuket deserve congratulations for catching the culprits so quickly. For all their faults, the cops here generally have a better record of solving serious crimes against farangs than they do Thais.

ha ha ha.. First laugh of the morning.

The only reason they were caught was the kids drove by on the coppers bike.. 1) pure chance and 2) only self interest on behalf of the policeman made him follow up on it.

I am with Sir Burr.. Not even keystone cops level here.

[LivinLOS]

Ohh and also highlight.. Sons of a taxi driver.. Surprise surprise..

[Sir Burr]

I am with Sir Burr.. Not even keystone cops level here.

My post was in reply to the post about the Mission Statement, though, I agree about the cops. Having been a victim of a violent robbery, the cops response was laughable.

[qualtrough]

To all of you so negative about the fact that the cops caught the culprits, please do the following:

1. Research details of the last 20 farangs murdered in Thailand.

2. Calculate the percentage of those crimes for which suspects were nabbed.

3. Calculate the clearance rate as a percentage.

4. Compare that clearance rate with the 10 largest cities in the USA.

The vast majority of case where farangs have murdered here have resulted in arrests and usually convictions. I would wager that when it comes to murdered farangs the Thai cops are much better at solving the cases than many Western agencies.

[LivinLOS]

Factor in amount of local population compared to 10 largest cities in the US.. The idiocy of the usual murderers and simplicity of conviction (eg known man walks into apublic resturant and shoots someone he has a business dispute with.. and it still took weeks / months to catch him, and he handed himself in IIRC)..

The detective element in the police force here is almost non existant. Unless they trip over him and he immediately grasses his buddies (as above) they tend to look around with a 'mai loo' look...

I stand by my assessment..

[qualtrough]

Factor in amount of local population compared to 10 largest cities in the US.. The idiocy of the usual murderers and simplicity of conviction (eg known man walks into apublic resturant and shoots someone he has a business dispute with.. and it still took weeks / months to catch him, and he handed himself in IIRC)..

The detective element in the police force here is almost non existant. Unless they trip over him and he immediately grasses his buddies (as above) they tend to look around with a 'mai loo' look...

I stand by my assessment..

Sorry, but the vast majority, probably approaching 90%, of the cases where farangs have been murdered have resulted in arrests of the suspects and very often convictions.

Off the top of my head:

• Katherine Horton (Koh Samui): Arrest and conviction
  
• 2 Russian women in Pattaya: Arrest and conviction
  
• Couple in Kanchanburi: Arrest and conviction
  
• Michael Wansley: Arrest, still ongoing as far as I know
  
• Australian birder in Doi Ang: Arrest, conviction, under appeal I believe
  
• Johanne Masheder, Kanchanburi: Arrest, conviction
  

... so on

Yes, there are cases such as the girl murdered in the guest house in Chiang Mai that remain unsolved, but those cases are not that common. You don't have to like Thai cops to recognize that they are pretty good about getting to the bottom of murder cases involving farang victims. Their clearance rates for those rival or exceed those back home. Despite that record all you can come up with is that it is due to dumb luck. Some people just can't be pleased...

[LivinLOS]

Dumb luck.. Or Dumb criminals.. Yes..

Have you ever had dealings with Thai police where some element of followup or detective work was needed.. In even the most basic of cases its keystone cops stuff.. This is the country that wanted to block CSI because they were worried criminals would learn.. I have.. My mates niece was killeed and despite the person responsible being as guilty as sin it took private legal work to secure the conviction as the police didnt have a clue, lost statement, and simply ballsed the case up from start to finish etc etc etc..

From the ones you list above.. The Kancahanabui case.. Well despite the fact that a newspaper source I know says that cop isnt in prison there were 10's of witnesses.. And he still nearly didnt go down (and may not be there now).. The 2 ruskis in Patts.. Well they got the claimed shooter but not the reason or person behind it.. That was a hit for reasons unknown.

You list a few cases.. but the multiple handcuffed to bed 'suicides' dont see much listing above. Anything that doesnt have the most basic of motives and dumbest of individuals has a very low record of success.. Seen that farang bank robber lately ?? Full view, full daylight..

My mates wife was kidnapped, bag over her head, drugged and forced to sign land papers / debt papers.. Despite the person taking her to his own house, and a mass of hard evidence the police couldnt follow it through.. 2 Nakhon hit men were known to be looking for the husband and the police's advice was 'dont go home'..

Edited October 3, 2007 by LivinLOS

[balo]

Another news article from Norway today.

http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=173173

Again sorry for any spelling mistakes from my translation....

The Thai police have arrested a third person in connection with the murder of Simen Sparre Knudsen (47) .

Earlier, two men have confessed, but after the third man was arrested, they now have changed their statement.

The third man denies to have anything to do with the murder, all of them now denies what happened.

- The first one we arrested told us details about who kicked, beat and stabbed when we interregated him. The other person gave the same statement as the first one, but when the third person denied this , all three of them now denies what happened, says police investigator Pitthaya Thepmuang at the tourist police in Phuket.

The investigator explains that theres only two prison cells, one for men and one for women, at Chalong police station. So the three men had time to talk together, and changed their statement after this.

Together with the 18 year old, the brothers had used an effective method to rob foreign tourists driving along the roads south of Phuket. According to the Thai newspaper Phuket Gazzette, the teenagers choosed dark areas along the roads where they patiently waited for foreigners on bikes.

They tried to yell at the tourists and when they stopped the three men attacked and forced the tourist off the bike.

The two brothers, 16 and 18 years old, have been training thai boxing in a local thai boxing club. The fighting technics they learned have been used on the victims.

When the tourist was violently beaten, they first robbed them for all the valuables, then they took the bike and drove away.

According to a police source, they have found several motor cycles on an address thats been used by the brothers.

The Norwegian captain Simen Sparre Knudsen was brutally murdered south of Phuket. According to Phuket Gazette, the teenagers had beaten Knudsen several times in the face, kicked him hard in the leg, and stabbed him twice in the chest with a knife.

In the interregations they have both explained that they didnt mean to kill the Norwegian, but that the situation just got out of control.

When the oldest brother was arrested Sunday the police found a knife that probably was used to stab Knudsen. And the 18 year old then admitted he stabbed Knudsen.

But now he denies everything....

.

[LivinLOS]

Another news article from Norway today.

http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=173173

- The first one we arrested told us details about who kicked, beat and stabbed when we interregated him. The other person gave the same statement as the first one, but when the third person denied this , all three of them now denies what happened, says police investigator Pitthaya Thepmuang at the tourist police in Phuket.

The investigator explains that theres only two prison cells, one for men and one for women, at Chalong police station. So the three men had time to talk together, and changed their statement after this.

In the interregations they have both explained that they didnt mean to kill the Norwegian, but that the situation just got out of control.

When the oldest brother was arrested Sunday the police found a knife that probably was used to stab Knudsen. And the 18 year old then admitted he stabbed Knudsen.

But now he denies everything....

Yeah superb policing from Phukets finest...

Put them in a cell together until they have had enough time to get thier stories straight..

Well at least the policeman got his bike back hey !!

[Felt 35]

To all of you so negative about the fact that the cops caught the culprits, please do the following:

1. Research details of the last 20 farangs murdered in Thailand.

2. Calculate the percentage of those crimes for which suspects were nabbed.

3. Calculate the clearance rate as a percentage.

4. Compare that clearance rate with the 10 largest cities in the USA.

The vast majority of case where farangs have murdered here have resulted in arrests and usually convictions. I would wager that when it comes to murdered farangs the Thai cops are much better at solving the cases than many Western agencies.

All good qualtrough and no punch intended.

What I however wonder about is if a long time known corrupt police force also could be capable of using corruption the other way around. Pressed from their superiors and also in this case from a foreign country to find the guilty. Only to show the world that we are "good" and criminals don’t last long in Thailand!

Probably not much they need to offer a teenage criminal, living hand to mouth of robbing foreign tourists.

Guess a promise about a shorter sentence and a few thousand bath to send home will do the trick for many criminals here, guilty or not what hope does they have.

Huh, scary thinking.

[MisterMan]

Did anyone notice that in the picture on the Gazette online he has a rather large "bandage" on his right arm?

Also did anyone else not find it just a bit "too lucky" and coincedential that the copper spotted his bike by chance ? And according to the Gazette the swiss guy who was robbed never reported it nor mentioned that the bike was stolen?

Why didnt they steal the Norwegians bike too? Maybe they were afraid of his ghost?

It just seems a bit to quick and easy. Did they check the knife for blood? Was there ANY forensics involved? Can we not call Dr. Pornthip (the brilliant female forensics expert) from Bangkok to come and really solve this crime?

Am I just old and cynical?

A friend of mine said that it is the rather overweight police officer often seen at the end of Kata Center as his bike rental place is near too, by the bank and tuk tuk stop.

Also why are the NOrwegian reports saying that the cop hit him with a car???

[sriracha john]

Thank you very much for your efforts, balo, for keeping us informed. A big to you.

Please continue to do so with any important updates.

[zzdocxx]

Wonder how they so often seem to get the culprits to confess.

[smartecosse]

Wonder how they so often seem to get the culprits to confess.

a large pipe/baton

[LeungKen]

Now I'm really confused after reading ths following in the Phuket Gazette

<A name=6009>Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Three youths no longer suspects

PHUKET CITY: Three youths previously arrested for the fatal stabbing of Norwegian Simen Sparre Knudsen in Rawai on September 23 are no longer under suspicion for the murder, the police officer in charge of the investigation has revealed.</FONT>

Phuket City Police Inspector Pol Lt Col Somkid Boonrat, assigned to investigate the case by Phuket Provincial Police, today said that questioning of two of the suspects had convinced him that they were not responsible for Knudsen’s murder.</FONT>

They have however confessed to the theft of a motorbike rented to a Swiss tourist, who was stopped and assaulted before having the bike stolen from him on the dark stretch of road near Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort in Karon on the night of September 27. </FONT>

An off-duty Chalong Police officer, who rented the motorbike to the Swiss man, arrested 16-year-old “Pong” at about 7 pm on September 29. Under questioning by Chalong Police, Pong confessed to killing Knudsen with the help of two other youths: his half-brother Narongsak Tongviset and friend Theerapat Saivaree, both 18. </FONT>

After their separate arrests by Phuket City Police a few days later, both Narongsak and Theerapat denied any knowledge of Knudsen’s murder.</FONT>

Interrogated separately, they confessed only to stealing motorbikes from foreigners in Chalong District, he said.</FONT>

As for the confession by 16-year-old Pong and his naming of the other two as his accomplices, Lt Col Somkid said he had not questioned the youth himself and had to rely on what he was told by Chalong Police. The youth might have been confused or under pressure to confess, he said. </FONT>

Lt Col Somkid declined to comment on the possibility of a forced confession, saying that he well understood the pressure to solve the high-profile case. </FONT>

Police are now investigating one suspect in the Knudsen case, a man whose personal details and appearance are known to police, Lt Col Somkid said.</FONT>

“I can’t say with 100% certainty that he is the guilty one, but it is a possibility,” he told the Gazette.</FONT>

He also pleaded with the media for enough time to conduct a thorough investigation, promising he would provide updates.</FONT>

The investigation continues to be a major news story in Knudsen’s home country.

[MisterMan]

I knew it was just to convenient. So what do you think really happened?

Where they not the culprits and just an easy scapegoat for someon to be a hero, like the police dept?

Any other speculations, yes just for the sake of sepulations........

[LivinLOS]

Yeah Phuket police are SOOOO efficient and superb..

One of two options.. They either beat a 16 year old up and gained a forced confession.. Or by allowing the 3 of them into one call to get stories straight they allowed them to make a unified defence and realize it would be life in jail..

Either way my earlier question of "could they be more keystone" still stands..

But as I pointed pointed out.. At least the copper got his bike back, thats the main thing hey !!

[balo]

This is terrible news.

Thay have also reported this in the Norwegian news today, from the article in Phuket Gazette.

I cant believe it, if the police are so sure that the boys murdered him in the beginning,

now the family and relatives to Knudsen must be really upset .

[sriracha john]

As it seems the Phuket Gazette is the only Thai-based paper covering this, please continue to keep us informed of any developments in the Norwegian press, balo.

[Aussietraveller]

Wonder how they so often seem to get the culprits to confess.

a large pipe/baton

This ties in well with another thread in this forum:

Phuket Residents & Tourists Can Feel Safer Soon !

More Police Coming

I bet we all feel safer now knowing the standard of Thai policing.

Lets get this straight:

Two teenagers arrested by police have reportedly confessed

The main break in the case followed from sharp police work..

As stated by earlier posters, this makes Keystone cops look efficient.

And Smartcosse may not have been far from the truth with his post.

Lt Col Somkid declined to comment on the possibility of a forced confession, saying that he well understood the pressure to solve the high-profile case.

Quote:Phuket Gazette

The only good thing about this is the loss of face by the police in having to admit the outcome.

Signed.

Angry Phuket Resident.

Edited October 11, 2007 by Aussietraveller

[LivinLOS]

Another attack in Rawai, Aussie and Brit mugged

RAWAI: An Australian woman was pulled off her motorcycle and robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning in the same area where Norwegian tourist Simen Knudsen was killed two weeks earlier.

The victim, 27-year-old Australian Sooz Lomas, arrived in Phuket about two weeks ago to study Thai boxing at the Rawai Muay Thai camp.

About 2:30 am on Sunday, Ms Lomas left the nearby Icon Bar with an English friend named Paul, also 27. As Paul drove the motorbike and Ms Lomas rode pillion, the pair were approached from behind by two men on another motorbike.

Ms Lomas said the attack happened off the main road from Rawai to Kata.

“I don’t know the roads very well and neither did the guy who was driving. I think we may have taken a wrong turn, because we ended up somewhere that was very dark. I think we were followed from the bar,” she said.

“It was very soon after we left, and there were a bunch of people standing outside as we were leaving. We were going slowly, about 30kmh. Then two guys came up from behind, on the right. One of them reached out and grabbed my bag, pulling me off the motorbike.

“I came off and hit the ground face first, while the driver skidded along for a bit. I hit my head, so I was still a bit confused about exactly what had happened. One of the attackers went up to Paul, pointed a gun at him and asked for money. So he emptied his pockets.

“They both had guns. I was lying face down on the ground. I didn’t really know what was going on, but one of the guys came up to me saying, ‘Money! Money! Money!’ I wasn’t really sure what was happening, but I didn’t want to give up my bag straight away. Then I felt my bag being grabbed and they cut the strap and pulled it off me,” Ms Lomas said

Once they had taken all her possessions, the gunmen left quickly, getting away with about 1,500 baht in cash, credit cards, a mobile phone and camera – in addition to the money stolen from Paul.

Ms Lomas, who is on her first trip to Thailand, said she didn’t get a good look at her assailants. “Once I saw they had a gun, I didn’t really look at anything else. It was scary. I had never seen a gun before so it was one of the most frightening experiences in my life,” she said.

Cut and bruised from her hard fall, Ms Lomas and Paul returned to Rawai Muay Thai, where the manager took them to the police and then to hospital for treatment.

Since that night, police have twice been back to the camp to question her about the attack, but Ms Lomas was not sure if the officers were from Chalong Police, which has jurisdiction in this case, or Phuket City Police, who have been assigned by provincial police to take over the high-profile Knudsen murder investigation that took place in the same vicinity.

Chalong Police earlier announced they had arrested a young suspect who had admitted to killing Mr Knudsen, with the help of a brother and a friend. The other two suspects were arrested soon thereafter by Phuket City Police, who after questioning ruled out all three as suspects in the Knudsen murder.

Ms Lomas said the attack has not only changed her vacation plans, but also the way she feels about traveling in Thailand.

“I have certainly been more careful since. I had heard stories of things like this happening. There was a Norwegian guy [Mr Knudsen] who was killed not long ago and the police had said that this had happened a few times recently. It does make me think twice about coming back to Phuket.

“I have heard that people with handbags are being targeted, so I am not going to carry one anymore. A lot of the people at the gym are really paranoid now; lots of the girls at the camp are quite scared,” said Ms Lomas.

Her training at Rawai Muay Thai was going well until the attack, which left her covered in bruises and abrasions and forced her to cease training.

“I was going to leave, but I couldn’t get a flight. I am a bit short of cash now with everything that happened and all my medical bills. I couldn’t get a flight out on the 19th, but I was leaving on the 22nd anyway,” she said.

To see picture/s related to this story, please go to http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.as...6&display=1 Brought to you by:

The Phuket Gazette

18:50 local time (GMT +7)