Australian real estate agent, step-son killed in suspected arson attack in Ao Nang

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Australian real estate agent, step-son killed in suspected arson attack

Phuket Gazette

It took about 20 minutes for firefighters to control the blaze. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

KRABI: -- Australian real estate agent Richard Port and his 17-year-old step-son were trapped and killed in a house fire that police suspect was intentionally started across the bay from Phuket early this morning, in Ao Nang.

“Nobody was able to leave the house as the fire block all the exits. We could hear a woman screaming for help through the front window,” said Krabi Town Police Deputy Superintendent Noppadol Mukda.

Firefighters immediately rescued Mr Port’s wife, Naruthai, by removing the window bars from the front window. She suffered from serious burns on 60 per cent of her body and was rushed to Krabi Hospital for treatment.

It took firefighters about 20 minutes to control the blaze at the Watchara Home housing estate.

“We went inside to inspect the house and found the burnt body of Mr Port face down by the bed,” said Lt Col Noppadol. “The body of Mrs Naruthai’s 17-year-old son, Worraphat Sukkaew, was found lying face down in the kitchen.”

At the back of the house, police found a 16kg cooking gas cylinder with the valve open and the rubber tube cut to allow a free flow of gas, Col Noppadol explained. Additionally, two motorbikes were found with seats lifted, gas lids removed and towels soaked with fuel dangling from the tanks.

“We were able to move the two bikes away from the house before they caught fire and exploded,” Col Noppadol said. “It’s very lucky that the motorbikes didn’t blow up.”

Based on the evidence, police believe that the killings were part of an arson attack.

One of Mr Port’s neighbors, Boonsir Ubon, 62, told police that she had received a call sometime after 2am from Mrs Naruthai asking for help.

“I immediately called police for her,” Mrs Boonsir said.

Mrs Boonsir also confirmed to police that the couple had been involved in Ao Nang real estate.

Police are waiting for Mrs Naruthai, who is in stable condition, to recover before questioning her about the incident.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Australian-real-estate-agent-step-son-killed-in-suspected-arson-attack-22920.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-11-30

[Tatsujin]

I hope they find the cowardly Thai scum that pull this shit and execute them.

[skills32]

I hope they find the cowardly Thai scum that pull this shit and execute them.

How do you know they were Thai?

Did you pay someone to do it?

[Tatsujin]

I hope they find the cowardly Thai scum that pull this shit and execute them.

How do you know they were Thai?

Did you pay someone to do it?

If you're trying to be funny, you failed badly.

Arson is a favorite tactic of Thai's, not heard of many instances of foreigners using it in all my time here.

[pumpuiman]

I feel bad for the poor woman suffering with burns at Krabi hospital. I've been in the care of that hospital....horrible medical care,, absolutely useless in my opinion.

[Thai at Heart]

Horrible. Why was he face down in bed? Died from smoke?

Have often wondered about burglar bars on windows.

[catweazle]

Horrible. Why was he face down in bed? Died from smoke?

Have often wondered about burglar bars on windows.

BY the bed, not IN bed - people who can actually read are clearly in advantage in any forum...

[mrdome]

Just horrible... I hope the poor woman will recover. ... Window bars better be able to open from the inside.

[catweazle]

RIP to the victims, fast and thorough recovery to the surviving wife and the strength required to get through this ordeal and the aftermath. I believe no one here can't even fathom what she is and will be going through, not only being burned by 60%, but having lost son, husband and home...

I hope that the spineless coward(s) who did this will be caught right away and be sentenced to face the firing squad.

Whatever the motivation was for this, perhaps a fraud, or personal brawl, or whatever, nothing would justify such a horrific deed.

For the racists (can't find another word) who suspected "Thai" people to be the culprits right away: You are so low that you actually must be a snail or cockroach and I wonder how you managed to type...

Edited November 30, 2013 by catweazle

[johnopolo]

Words escape me: what is it with some (clearly deranged) people on these forums (and elsewhere too no doubt)? They simply cannot pass up on even the slightest opportunity to vent their hatred of Thai people. Please leave this country ASAP. I'm sure I speak for the vast majority when I say that you really aren't welcome here!

[Bingo66]

Recover? Burns on 60% of her body? Unlikely, I'd have an estimated medical guess she'll be dead soon unless it's a burn specialist hospital. If it's 3rd or 4th degree burns, she will certainly be toast. It depends on what degree the burns are, but >50% is tough for a good burn specialist to deal with, let alone a gov hospital.

truly horrible story, she was better off dieing.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19165111

[huwgo]

This forum is terrible for racism. Everyone is so critical and cynical of Thai people. If everyone else's country is so great, why are they living in Thailand?

[transam]

This forum is terrible for racism. Everyone is so critical and cynical of Thai people. If everyone else's country is so great, why are they living in Thailand?

Because no country is perfect.

[Carrerakiss]

Two dead, one critically ill in hospital, house destroyed.........but thank goodness two motorbikes didn't burn. What additional damage could they have caused?

I guess there is an argument for looking on the bright side, but.........

[briboy]

RIP mate, bloody security screens/bars are a big killer here in Aus too, it`s a shame the way the world is going you can`t leave anything of value anywhere unless it is securely locked, I would suspect in this case though it would be a business deal gone tits up, why not burn the place down when nobody was home if they felt that they had to get back at him, scum.

[slipperylobster]

Horrible. Why was he face down in bed? Died from smoke?

Have often wondered about burglar bars on windows.

Some people have bars that can swing out and are anchored through the wall with a quick release. It would be nice to have that in your bedroom, at least. The house I am in now had bars on all the windows, put they are only held in place with 1/4 inch screws on the window frame. Now that is not going to stop anyone. Not to mention that you could just kick the wooden (clapboard) door near the handle and gain entrance in a few seconds. I don't know why I never bought a fire extinquisher. In the states I had two all purpose extinquishers. I kept one in the bedroom to fight my way out. You want to get to it fast.

[Wat dee]

I hope they find the cowardly Thai scum that pull this shit and execute them.

You obviously have some new info, please share.

[noikrit]

This unfortunate incident will surely get them Aussie bashers dribbling over their keyboards.....

Edited November 30, 2013 by noikrit

[Thai at Heart]

Horrible. Why was he face down in bed? Died from smoke?

Have often wondered about burglar bars on windows.

BY the bed, not IN bed - people who can actually read are clearly in advantage in any forum...

Well I don't want to get into an amateur sleuth thing, but he rolled out of bed and didn't get any further?

Hmmmmmm

[Thai at Heart]

Horrible. Why was he face down in bed? Died from smoke?

Have often wondered about burglar bars on windows.

Some people have bars that can swing out and are anchored through the wall with a quick release. It would be nice to have that in your bedroom, at least. The house I am in now had bars on all the windows, put they are only held in place with 1/4 inch screws on the window frame. Now that is not going to stop anyone. Not to mention that you could just kick the wooden (clapboard) door near the handle and gain entrance in a few seconds. I don't know why I never bought a fire extinquisher. In the states I had two all purpose extinquishers. I kept one in the bedroom to fight my way out. You want to get to it fast.

I put one set of bars upstairs with a hinge.

In this case, it didn't matter. This is a horrible arson case. Ordinarily these concrete houses don't burn very well anyway. Few soft furnishings etc.

Cowardly horrible act to carry out. Hope they string these guys up.

[koto]

I hope they find the cowardly Thai scum that pull this shit and execute them.

OH! Did they say it was Thai...

[unanimosity]

RIP to the victims, fast and thorough recovery to the surviving wife and the strength required to get through this ordeal and the aftermath. I believe no one here can't even fathom what she is and will be going through, not only being burned by 60%, but having lost son, husband and home...

I hope that the spineless coward(s) who did this will be caught right away and be sentenced to face the firing squad.

Whatever the motivation was for this, perhaps a fraud, or personal brawl, or whatever, nothing would justify such a horrific deed.

For the racists (can't find another word) who suspected "Thai" people to be the culprits right away: You are so low that you actually must be a snail or cockroach and I wonder how you managed to type...

Anyone that writes "I beleive no one here can't even fathom..." is in no postition to criticize other people about reading and typing. As if there were any doubt, you seal the deal by saying it was her son. It most certainly could be his steip son by another marriage. Lighten up. Better yet, brighten up.

[unanimosity]

Horrible. Why was he face down in bed? Died from smoke?

Have often wondered about burglar bars on windows.

BY the bed, not IN bed - people who can actually read are clearly in advantage in any forum...

Well I don't want to get into an amateur sleuth thing, but he rolled out of bed and didn't get any further?

Hmmmmmm

If you have never been in this situation you might not have figured out that both heat and smoke rise to fill a room from the top down leaving the last gasp of air close to the floor.

[harleyclarkey]

Horrible. Why was he face down in bed? Died from smoke?

Have often wondered about burglar bars on windows.

BY the bed, not IN bed - people who can actually read are clearly in advantage in any forum...

Geez Cat.....relax man.

Why the heavy??

Edited November 30, 2013 by harleyclarkey

[Sallymax]

Gutless and cowardly is the only polite way I can describe the attacker/s.....I feel very sorry indeed for the wife knowing that she has lost her son and husband and suffered such terrible burns....cannot even begin to know how she must feel I only hope the authorities catch the offender/s and the courts deal with them swiftly - definitely in favour of the death penalty for this - no matter what race, colour, creed the offender/s may be!!

[unanimosity]

Two dead, one critically ill in hospital, house destroyed.........but thank goodness two motorbikes didn't burn. What additional damage could they have caused?

I guess there is an argument for looking on the bright side, but.........

Perhaps, they were situated in a way that could have endangered other dwellings; either that or a materialistic viewpoint.

[LivinginKata]

An insulting post removed. Forum members need to calm down and not throw about made up explanations. Let's stick with the known facts and wait for further official details. Have a bit of respect - 2 dead and another in a life threatening situation.

//update - another insulting post removed//

[cornishcarlos]

The body of Mrs Naruthais 17-year-old son, was found"

Guess that makes another poster that needs to brighten up

RIP to the victims.. Hopeful recovery to the wife.

Oh, just seen Unanimosity post was removed. It was a reply to that...

Edited November 30, 2013 by cornishcarlos

[Tatsujin]

I hope they find the cowardly Thai scum that pull this shit and execute them.

OH! Did they say it was Thai...

Are you seriously going to suggest this wasn't a Thai?

Next you'll be claiming it was a suicide.

[johnnycthedog]

Savage and cruel revenge for a possible deal gone wrong, or financial dispute, even a serious neighbourhood dispute.

Nationality of offender(s)? Depends on who he's crossed. Police could start with an examination of his office computer if this is actually at an office and not at his burnt home.

Need to know more about his real estate activities. Was he involved in buying and developing housing estates with Thai builders or just selling completed houses, condos etc. to foreigners. There's lots of possibilities. If there has been a dispute on a sold property there should be correspondence for that. Do his bank records show anything?

Throw the bus at me if you want but I suspect that this revenge was instigated by a disgruntled Thai. However, I hope they find whoever did it and throw the book at them.