Suspect Arrested in Fatal Rayong Garland Vendor Stabbing

Police have arrested a 20-year-old man for the fatal stabbing of a garland vendor in downtown Rayong. On October 27, Pol. Col. Atit Ya-kaew, Superintendent of Mueang Rayong Police Station, along with Pol. Lt. Col. Pongphon Sinjanhrit, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, and Pol. Lt. Col. Somphop Maping, Inspector of Investigation, jointly apprehended Phanuwat, age 20, who was wanted on an arrest warrant from Rayong Provincial Court for murder and fleeing arrest.

The incident occurred on October 18 when an assailant used a knife to stab Namphoeng, age 42, a garland vendor, to death at the entrance of Wan 1 Shop on Ratchachumphon Road in Tha Pradu subdistrict, Mueang district, Rayong province. Following the incident, police quickly gathered witness statements and evidence, leading to the arrest of Suthep, age 19, the motorcycle driver who transported Phanuwat to the scene. Although Suthep claimed he was only giving his friend a ride and did not expect him to commit the crime, he was taken into custody.

Investigators then tracked Phanuwat, who had fled to hide in the Khao Ngon Chang area. Police applied pressure through his relatives and girlfriend until he finally emerged from hiding and was arrested.

Phanuwat confessed that he and the deceased had a conflict dating back to when they worked together previously. He claimed the victim had physically assaulted him, and whenever they encountered each other, verbal arguments or physical altercations would ensue. He said he had tried to let it go, but the resentment lingered. On the day of the incident, he brought a friend to confront the victim, but when they met, his anger boiled over and he stabbed the victim in the right ribcage and right neck, causing death, before fleeing with his friend. He expressed apologies to the victim's family.

However, this statement is only the suspect's claim. Investigators must verify the testimony against witness accounts and forensic evidence as the case proceeds.