Family Affairs

[Nam Kao]

Well-liked local Danish businessman gunned down on Soi Honey Inn

Police make speedy arrest

Boonlua Chatree

Danish national Michael Kristensen, 33, was shot three times with a .38 caliber pistol just after midnight on November 20. Two men riding a motorcycle gunned him down in front of a busy beer bar in Soi Honey Inn (Soi 13) off Pattaya Second Road.

All three shots entered Kristensen’s chest, with at least one hitting his heart. He was brought to Pattaya Memorial Hospital in critical condition and later succumbed to his wounds.

Anuwat Tharyoung (standing center wearing handcuffs), who confessed to planning the murder, watches as Treesin Nukuchoaw (with gun) reenacts the murder.

Just days later, police arrested Anuwat Tharyoung, 19, and Treesin Nukuchoaw, 23, at two separate locations. Both men eventually confessed to their involvement in the murder.

Renny Kristensen, 24, the victim’s brother who witnessed the shooting, told police that he and his brother had been drinking at the Best Friend Beer Bar complex on Beach Road. Michael had apparently received a phone call and he and Renny made their way via motorcycle to Soi Honey Inn.

Renny went on to say that no sooner had they managed to park the motorcycle when the two men rode up. Renny said the pillion passenger pulled out a gun and fired three rounds into his brother before speeding off in the direction of Soi Bua Khao. He described the men as Thai, under 25 years of age and both were wearing black clothing. The shooter was wearing a cap and the driver a helmet.

Police took fingerprints of the deceased - standard procedure - then ordered the body be sent for a post mortem examination at the Police Forensic Institute.

During investigations, police learned that Kristensen was a well-liked member of the Danish community, and that he had no known enemies. He owned a slaughterhouse in Denmark with his brother, and was in the process of looking into buying a hotel in Jomtien.

The investigation task force and criminal investigators questioned over 20 witnesses to the shooting, eventually concluding that the shooter was someone close to the Kristensen family, most likely a relative.

After staking out the Kristensen’s Casa Jomtien home in Jomtien, police acquired a warrant and arrested Chachoengsao resident Anuwat Tharyoung, 19, from inside Kristensen’s house.

Anuwat confessed to driving the bike the night of the shooting. He went on to say that he removed the number plate of the motorcycle before looking for Kristensen, and that Treesin Nukuchoaw, 23, was the shooter.

Police located Treesin behind a Karaoke bar in Sattahip. He still had in his possession a .38 caliber pistol with three rounds missing from the clip. The weapon was confiscated as evidence, as police are confident it was the weapon used in the murder.

Anuwat also told police that the reason he and his friend shot Kristensen was that Anuwat had become enraged when he witnessed Michael Kristensen verbally abuse his cousin, Sukannya Tharyoung, Renny Kristensen’s wife, during an argument Michael Kristensen was having with his wife, Yomanar Kristensen, 29.

He said he arranged for his friend to collect a gun from a relative, and the two planned the attack.

Both men were charged with first degree (premeditated) murder, carrying and discharging a loaded weapon in public.

At 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 23, Pol. Lt. Gen. Jongrak, region 2 police commander and senior officers took the two men to the scene of the crime to re-enact the November 20 events. A large crowd of local residents and tourists watched as the two men re-enacted the shooting.

Police were applauded for their swift action in apprehending the two men. Danish Embassy officials, also present during the reenactment, presented police with a basket of flowers in appreciation for such a quick arrest.

[Nam Kao]

I bet the cousin was asking for $$