Pensioner shot dead in Thailand over ‘love affair or road rage’
A BRITISH pensioner was shot dead while riding his scooter near one of Thailand’s most popular beaches.
Neil Roger, a 70-year-old retired engineer from Doncaster, was found with four bullet wounds in an alley in the Bang Lamung district, Chonburi, on Thursday.
His Thai wife, Thitipan Kammalas, 38, arrived at the scene in tears after hearing he was shot at about 10.30pm.
Police and paramedics attempted CPR but he was pronounced dead after suffering severe blood loss.
Ms Kammalas told local news outlets that her husband had returned from England the previous day after visiting his ill sister over Christmas.
On the day of his death, Mr Roger reportedly went out drinking with friends at 4pm while she was at home.
Police are investigating several possible reasons for the shooting, including a road-rage dispute or whether Mr Roger was involved in a love triangle.
CCTV footage from the incident captured a car speeding along the road and overtaking the pensioner on his scooter before stopping in front of him. A man appeared to exit the car and fire a handgun three times at point-blank range as Mr Roger drove past. The shooter then ran back to his car and sped off.
Police Col Surakit In-am, of the Huay Yai district station, said yesterday that a “love affair or road rage” were two possible reasons for the killing.
He added: “The girlfriend’s phone has been confiscated and we are checking all the communication she had with Neil and other people.
“The victim could also have been involved in a dispute with other foreigners or road rage while he was riding home. We do not know the motive for the murder. Nobody has been arrested yet. We are still investigating and collecting all of the evidence.”
Officers said that Mr Rogers had been hit four times in the back with three 9mm bullet shells and one piece of shrapnel. He had two gunshot wounds on his back, one above his waist and one under his armpit.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities.”