Volume 14 Issue 29 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555 July 21 - 27, 2007 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht The Gazette is published Three in association with British man charged tourists over stepson’s death drown in IN THIS ISSUE By Supanun Supawong two days NEWS: Russian tourists out- number Chinese; New incin- KATHU: Englishman David By Sangkhae Leelanapaporn erator ‘on hold’. Pages 2 & 3 Murray, 37, has been charged over the death of his eight-year- PHUKET: Three tourists INSIDE STORY: A silent Korean old stepson, Narid “Curry” drowned in two days in danger- invasion brings tourists, and Budtharai, who allegedly died ous surf conditions at Phuket a new culture, to Phuket. after his head hit the floor while beaches July 14 and 15. Pages 4 & 5 he was being beaten by his step- A Russian housewife, a AROUND THE NATION: New law father for being a poor student. Saudi Arabian man and a may ban mobile phones while Pol Lt Col Passakorn Singaporean man all lost their driving. Page 7 Sonthikul of Tung Tong Police lives: the two men at Patong told the Gazette that the incident Beach and the woman at Bang AROUND THE REGION: Murder occurred at Murray’s condo Tao Beach. in Samui sets the stage for a home in Moo Baan Irawadee, in The first victim was mystery. Page 9 the Ketho area of Kathu District, Singaporean Chua Holk Beng, 34, whose body was pulled from PEOPLE: The man behind the at about 9 pm July 12. Nakkerd Hills big Buddha Curry’s mother, Ramida turbulent surf at Patong Beach statue. Pages 14 & 15 Murray, 32, a Thai national, told just before 3 pm on July 14 by police that for three years she Curry’s natural father Pissanu Badtharai, a Nepalese national, was members of the Phuket Provin- MOTORING: GM rolls out new and Murray had been living to- outraged to learn that his son’s corpse was covered in bruises and cial Administration (OrBorJor) Captiva. Page 17 gether with her two sons from a scars as it lay in a casket at Wat Ketho awaiting cremation. beach guard. He and his friend were LIFESTYLE: Modern muslim previous marriage, Tony, 10, and fashion house. Page 18 Curry. fell to the floor and was knocked Wat Ketho on July 16, Curry’s swimming in the water despite Curry, a student at Thairath unconscious when his head hit natural father, Pissanu Badtharai, red flags on the beach. ALL AT SEA: Classic Thai Wittaya School, had been receiv- the ground,” he added. was outraged by Curry’s death. The second victim, also on sails. Page 20 ing poor grades for two years, Murray then stopped his Told by his son’s aunt that Curry July 14, was 43-year-old Eka- said Col Passakorn, who added had died in an accident, K. terina Burova, a Russian woman FIRST PERSON: Why dolphins attack and tried to revive Curry, are beaching, and the state of that last year Curry’s parents but his efforts failed and Ramida Pissanu only learned of the who was on holiday with friends Phuket's environs. Page 27 warned their son about getting took Curry to Phuket Interna- bruises on his son’s body when and relatives. poor grades at school. tional Hospital where he was pro- he saw Curry’s corpse in the cas- Cherng Talay police re- SPORTS: Tasar results; ACYC; A week before his death, nounced dead on arrival. ket ready for cremation. ceived the report of her drown- Cheerleading; Surfing; Darts. Curry’s parents received a phone “Murray disappeared, tak- Thinking the police had de- ing at Bang Tao Beach about Pages 34 & 35 call from one of his teachers say- ing some cash and jewelry from clared the death an accident he 5:45 pm on July 14. Lt Col ing that Curry was having trouble his home with him. He later sent delayed the funeral and called for Jessada Sangsuree of Cherng ROPERTY Home Works: P : Talay Police Station said there Cooling off; Design: A bypass keeping up at school, he said. an SMS to Ramida at about 11 another autopsy. were red flags on the beach. beacon; Construction: “On July 11, Murray re- pm that night saying he was sorry However, after police The victim was swimming Zolitude; Gardening: One for peatedly hit Curry with a length for what he had done. He told showed K. Pissanu that the with her two children and one the kids. Pages 36-39 of blue PVC pipe,” Col Passa- her her was contemplating sui- cause of death reported on the korn said. “Curry was not al- cide,” Col Passakorn said. death certificate was “wounds other relative when she started lowed to go to school the next Ramida tried to call him sustained from blows” he al- having difficulty and finally suc- PLUS day because of his bruises and back but was unable to get lowed the cremation to proceed. cumbed to the waves. not allowed any food,” he quoted through, he said. To substantiate his claims Local people helped bring QUEER NEWS 6; AROUND THE Ramida as saying. “Ramida said that although that his sons were being abused, her body back to shore, but she SOUTH 8; AROUND THE ISLAND 10; “The next day Curry wet David hit the child in anger she K. Pissanu showed the Gazette could not be resuscitated, Col ON THE MENU 13; HAPPENINGS his bed and for this Murray beat didn’t think he intended to seri- Tony’s back, which was covered Jessada said. 16; SPA MAGIC 21; TAKE A him with the PVC pipe until the ously injure him,” he added. in bruises and scars. On July 15 32-year-old BREAK 23 & 24; BOOKS, PHUKET pipe broke,” Col Passakorn said. On the morning of July 13 “Tony is autistic,” said K. Abrahi Altalt of Saudi Arabia also DIARY 25; EDITORIAL, LETTERS “His mother told Curry to Pissanu. “He cannot talk. He can drowned at Patong Beach. The 26; TSOWNDINGS, HOROSCOPES Murray turned himself in at Tung red flag warnings were in effect 28; FEATURES 29; COMPUTERS apologize for the bed wetting, but Tong Police Station, where he only make noises.” 30; BUSINESS AND M ONEY 32 & he didn’t say a word. This made was charged with murder with- Murray, who has yet to be when he entered the water. 33; CLASSIFIEDS 40-51. Murray angry again and he out intent. arraigned, is being held at Phuket His body was recovered kicked Curry in the chest. Curry At Curry’s cremation at Provincial Prison. and taken to Patong Hospital. 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS July 21 - 27, 2007 Three die More Russian tourists say ‘yes’ to Phuket By Semacote Suganya emptions on arrival, in Rawai 49,234 Russian citi- PHUKET: Russian tourists now account for zens flew to Phuket in the fourth largest group of foreign holiday- the first quarter this smash makers visiting Phuket behind Sweden, the year, a 40% increase UK and Australia, said Anoma Wongyai, as- on the year before, K. RAWAI: An accident on Wiset sistant director of the Tourism Authority of Anoma said. Rd left a father, his daughter and Thailand (TAT) South Region 4 Office in Transaero Air- niece dead and his wife seriously Phuket. lines, the only Russian injured after the motorbike all K. Anoma attributed the boost, which carrier serving Phuket, four were riding on and a car nudges China down to fifth place, to the suc- has three weekly char- collided about 8 pm on July 15. cess of the TAT-organized “Leisure 2006” ter flights from Mos- Chalong Police were roadshow to Moscow last year. cow. The flights are alerted to the accident, which The announcement follows Russian available throughout happened in front of Baan Haad Consul Vladimir Pronin’s recent meeting with the high season, from Rawai Bungalow, at about 8 pm. Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr, president of the October to March or Pol Lt Col Peeraphan Mee- Phuket Provincial Administration Organiza- April. Russian Consul Vladimir Pronin (2nd from left) and his team discuss mak, an inspector at Chalong Po- tion (OrBorJor). The Russian gov- Russian tourism to Phuket with OrBorJor President Anchalee Vanich- lice Station, told the Gazette that K. Anchalee led an entourage to Mos- ernment is now look- Thepabutr (right) at the OrBorJor offices in Phuket City. he arrived at the scene to find the cow as part of an initiative to promote Thai- ing to appoint an hon- body of 29-year-old construction land as a holiday destination. orary consul for Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi the two countries and promote cross-cultural worker Payont Waraputh next to Taking advantage of 30-day visa ex- to support the growing relationship between exchange. a smashed Honda Wave motor- cycle and a gold Honda Jazz with damage to the right front side and Students bumper. Pharmacy staffer K. Payont was returning from Rawai Beach when the col- charged over lision occurred, said Col Peera- phan, adding that witnesses to the road rage crash were yet to be interviewed. shoots debt collector K. Payont’s daughter Wa- laiporn Waraputh, 8, and his niece By Sompratch Saowakhon Pol Maj Serm Kwannimit for by one of his relatives. beating Supitchaya Chaikiri, 6, were taken and his team of officers arrived Pol Lt Col Boonlert Onklang RASSADA: Two second-year to Vachira Phuket Hospital by PATONG: An employee who at the pharmacy 20 minutes later of Kathu Police told the Gazette university students were arrested rescue workers before he arrived shot and injured a private debt and questioned the remaining that Tak owns a 20% share of after allegedly assaulting a man at the scene, Col Peeraphan said.