UBON RATCHATHANI: A 51-year-old Briton was arrested yesterday for allegedly kicking his 29-year-old Thai wife to death in a fit of jealousy at a house in Det Udom district.
The body of the woman, identified as Kanda Smitham, was found in front of the one-storey house in tambon Non Somboon when police arrived yesterday. The woman, wearing only panties, was covered with a blanket. Police said she had been dead for several hours, media reported.
Her British husband, Kevin Smitham, confessed to having kicked her in the face in a fit of jealousy, according to police.
Det Udom police chief, Pol Col Pattharapol Phothiar, said the couple had been drinking beer with the woman's relatives on Sunday night. About 9pm, the relatives left the house. Around 5am yesterday, neighbours walking past the house saw Kanda lying on the front porch. On approaching, they found that she was dead and immediately alerted police. Mr Smitham was arrested and was in custody.
The Manager Online news outlet reported that Mr Smitham told police that after drinking beer with his wife, a quarrel erupted after she refused to have sex with him. Suspecting that she might have a lover he kicked her several times in the face and body.
Kanda ran away and collapsed in front of the house. He let her lie there and later used a blanket to cover her body before going to bed. He said he did not mean to kill her, the website reported.