A young Filipino man arrested in the stabbing death of his elderly Thai neighbour in Chiang Mai claimed he was inspired by an online combat game, police say.
The 19-year-old suspect was arrested after police armed with a court warrant searched his house in tambon Padad in Muang district at 1am on Saturday. They were looking for evidence that could tie him to the killing of Jinda Pongsantia, 73, Thairath Online reported.
Mrs Jinda was found dead in a pool of blood in her home at a housing estate in tambon Padad at 12.30am on Feb 23. She had sustained serious knife wounds to the neck and under her chin. A 21-centimetre blood-coated kitchen knife was found near her body. Her bedroom had been ransacked and about 10,000 baht in coins stolen.
Pol Maj Gen Montri Sampunyanond, the Chiang Mai police chief who led the search, said officers seized several pieces of evidence from the suspect's house, which was about 200 metres away from the victim's. The items included stolen coins, bloodstained sandals and clothing.
The Philippine consul-general of Chiang Mai was invited to witness the interrogation of the suspect, in the presence of the man's parents, said Pol Maj Gen Montri.
During the interrogation, police said the man confessed to killing the elderly woman. Armed with a kitchen knife, he went to her house and saw her smoking a cigarette on the porch. He greeted her as usual and her dog did not bark as he was a regular visitor, the suspect told police.
He told police that he later used a cloth from the house to cover the dog's cage. He then crept up behind the woman, covered her mouth with his hand before stabbing her. He then ransacked her bedroom and fled with money.
Police said the accused confessed that he had imitated an online combat game when he was stabbing the victim.
The man has been detained for further legal action.