The body of Wirun Inya, a driver for the Phuket Provincial Commercial Office, was found in a hotel car park on Kra Rd, along Bang Yai Canal, at about 6am yesterday. Police believe he had died several hours before his body was found.
Investigators found that Mr Wirun, originally from Phatthalung, had been stabbed once in the left chest. They also reported another cut wound on his back.
Mr Wirun was seen earlier that night at a restaurant some 500 metres away, where blood stains were found on the ground.
Police questioned staff at the restaurant, including the chief of security, and checked CCTV footage in the area, leading to Phuket City Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Sarawut Chotisuwan requesting a warrant for the arrest of a staffer at the restaurant, Arnon Thepsong, 28, from Trang.
The warrant was issued by Phuket Provincial Court and Arnon was arrested at his residence in Sakdidet Soi 6, Wichit, last night.
In custody, Arnon confessed to police to stabbing Mr Wirun, but said that he had stabbed him only once, and that was in self-defence.
Arnon told police that Mr Wirun was drunk and belligerent at the restaurant. He was causing trouble with other customers and even threw a bottle at the canal embankment in front of the restaurant.
Restaurant staff tried to intervene and had asked Mr Wirun to come out in front of the venue, but Wirun instead punched one of the staffers.
Realising that Mr Wirun was still coming at him, Arnon ran to grab the knife that he had under the seat of his motorbike, which was parked in front of the restaurant. Arnon said he carried the knife for personal protection.
Arnon said he tried walking away from Mr Wirun, but Mr Wirun punched him in the face. That was when Arnon stabbed Wirun, just once, before fleeing on his motorbike back to his room in Wichit.
Arnon admitted that he threw the knife into the Bang Yai Canal before fleeing on his motorbike.
Arnon assured police that his actions were in self-defence. There was no intention to kill Mr Wirun in any way, he said.
Regardless, Arnon has now been charged with assault causing the death of another person and carrying a knife in a public place without reasonable cause.
Pol Col Pratheung urged all operators of restaurants and other nightlife venues to ensure that no persons are allowed to carry weapons with them onto the premises.