Thai national Ekkapan Kaewkla (centre), 26, who is suspected of killing British tourist Stephen Ashton, is escorted by police officers following his arrest at Koh Phangan Island, southern Thailand yesterday.
AFP/Bangkok
Police in Thailand said yesterday they had arrested a Thai over the death of a British tourist shot during New Year celebrations at one of the Southeast Asian nation’s most popular islands.
The 26-year-old suspect is alleged to have opened fire during an argument with a group of other Thai men at a bar on the southern resort of Koh Phangan, killing holidaymaker Stephen Ashton who was dancing on the beach.
“He was charged with murder, even though he said he did not aim to kill a tourist. Firing the gun, no matter at whom, was aiming to kill,” said Surat Thani province police commander Kietpong Khaosa-ard.
The man, who was arrested late Tuesday near his home on the island, was also charged with illegal possession of a weapon.
Phangan is a resort island in the Gulf of Thailand near Koh Samui and draws thousands of backpackers to its famous full moon parties. The British Foreign Office announced Tuesday it was providing consular assistance to Ashton’s family, which said it was “completely devastated” by his death.
“He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances in which he was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations,” the family said in a statement issued through the foreign office.
“We cannot comprehend how someone can carry out such a reckless act, giving such little value to human life.”