NAKHON PATHOM - A 22-year-old man arrested for the murder of a close friend's wife has told police they were secret lovers, but she angered him by praising her husband while they were having sex.
Chanachai Lekkla turned himself in to police at Nakhon Chaisi police station around noon on Wednesday and admitted punching and stomping his 21-year-old lover to death and dumping her body beside a road in the district.
The woman's body, clad in a sky blue T-shirt and shorts without underwear, was found in bushes near a deserted house along the Tha Cheen River on Tuesday. She had severe bruising over her body.
Police believed she had been dead at least eight hours before her body was found and reported over a police hotline. An empty beer bottle and a lighter found nearby were collected as evidence, Thai media reported.
Mr Chanachai confessed he killed the woman, who was the wife of his close friend, according to police. He and the victim had been romantically involved for a long time, but his friend was not aware of the relationship.
Before the murder, he phoned his lover and arranged to meet her at their regular spot in Nakhon Chaisi district. He took along a bottle of beer. While they were having sex the woman praised her husband for taking good care of her and never scolding her. He became jealous and angry and a quarrel erupted, the suspect said.
He claimed the woman had rudely insulted his parents, causing him to lose his temper. He punched her in the stomach, kicked and stomped her several times until she became unconscious.
As he realised she was dead, he dragged her body outside and dumped it in some bushes not far from the murder scene.
Mr Chanachai said he had become stressed out after committing the crime. He told a close friend what had happened. He was afraid the woman’s husband might take revenge on him if he discovered the truth, and also admitted he was addicted to drugs.
Police charged him with murder and concealing a corpse. He was later taken to the crime scene.