Man Charged With Thai Masseurs

[Darlek]

Friday, 6 August, 2004, 21:23 GMT 22:23 UK

Man charged over masseur killing

Mr Trikhana was known locally as "Nikki"

A man has been charged with the murder of a Thai masseur who was found stabbed and strangled in his flat last month.

The body of Niphan Trikhana, known as Nikki, was found with a cord round his neck at the flat in Chelsea, west London, by his landlord on 23 July.

Darren Johnson, 27, from south-west London, has been charged with murder and will appear on Saturday before West London Magistrates' Court.

Tests showed Mr Trikhana, who was 32, died from strangulation.

He had come to the UK in 2001, and had moved from a flat in Notting Hill 10 days before his death.

He was also studying English at the nearby Lilian Bishop School in Harrington Road.