An American tourist was
allegedly stabbed to death by
three Thai musicians after he
refused to stop singing at a bar
in a popular tourist resort, police
said Wednesday.
Bobby Ray Carter, 51, died after
he was stabbed twice in the
chest while his son Adam, 27,
suffered a stab wound to his
arm, during a fight with
members of the house band
from the Longhorn Saloon early
Wednesday at Ao Nang beach in
Krabi.
Police said the three musicians
were arrested at the scene and
confessed to stabbing the
Americans.
Carter had joined the musicians
on stage for a singalong, but a
row broke out when he refused
to stop singing as the band took
a break.
On its website the Longhorn
Saloon advertises “jam with the
band” as one of its attractions,
along with “good music,
funfunfun and friendly staff”.
“He and his son quarrelled with
all three musicians because he
wouldn’t stop singing despite
the musicians taking a break,”
said Lieutenant Colonel Attapong
Seanjaiwuth of Krabi tourist
police.
“He then demanded the money
he had already given as a tip
back. But the real fight broke out
outside of that pub. He was
stabbed twice and died while on
the way to local hospital.”
Thailand has come under
scrutiny in recent months over its
treatment of foreign tourists,
who are a mainstay of the
economy.
Tourists have registered a series
of complaints with authorities
over their treatment ranging
from jet ski scams, drink spiking,
robbery, assault and even police
extortion.
A dozen European ambassadors
recently raised the issue with
local authorities on a visit to the
resort island of Phuket — where
a 59-year-old Australian woman
was killed in June 2012 in a
robbery.
Earlier in July an American man
was slashed to death by a taxi
driver in Bangkok after an
apparent argument over the fare.
A record 22 million foreigners
visited Thailand last year.
Although most did not encounter
any serious problems, diplomats
say tougher action is needed to
ensure their protection. AFP