UDON THANI - A transgender has turned himself in to police and admitted he strangled a transgender friend to death after she insulted him by saying he was not fit to live and should never have been born.
Theerawat Muenwan, 25, surrendered to police on Wednesday night for the murder of his friend at Nang Rin waterfall in tambon Nong Kungsri, Pol Capt Sayant Nanthapong, a deputy investigation chief at Non Sa-at police station, said on Thursday.
Mr Theerawat took police and rescue workers to the waterfall, where they found the body of the woman, Wanpen Hangsalad, 29, lying face-down on a rock about 10pm on Wednesday, Thai media reported.
Wanpen, who had short hair and was wearing a blue T-shirt under a blue denim jacket with black trousers, had been strangled with a cord, said Pol Capt Sayant.
Mr Theerawat told police that he and the victim were long-time friends. They went to the waterfall on Wednesday by motorcycle and they drank alcohol there. Around 6pm, by which time they were both drunk, they began to quarrel.
Wanpen had started by insulting him for his effeminate lifestyle. She said he should never have been born at all and scolded him with rude, hurtful words.
Her insulting remarks had made him increasingly angry, Mr Theerawat said. He took the cord he used to hold up his pants, wrapped it around her neck and strangled her until she fell down onto the rock they were seated on. He then held her down until she stopped moving.
According to Mr Theerawat, he was shocked when he realised his friend had also stopped breathing.
He sat there for three hours before deciding to turn himself in to police.
The suspect was held in police custody on a charge of murder.