UPDATE: Suspect Arrested After Admitting to Murdering British Teenager in Thailand

Lampang –

A suspect has been arrested and reportedly admitted to Thai police to murdering a 16-year-old British/Thai teenager who was found dead with head wounds in a forest in Lampang province, northern Thailand, earlier this week.

Our previous story:

The deceased teenager, Ben, 16, was found in a grove in the Ban Than district with injuries resembling blunt force, local police reported on Sunday morning, May 7th.

On Tuesday (May 9th) the Region 5 Police revealed to Thai media that they had arrested a male suspect who was initially identified by police as Chaiwat Boonkarin, 44. He is being accused of murder and hiding, moving, or destroying a body, specifically that of Woramet Ben Taota, 16.

Chaiwat reportedly admitted to Thai police that he killed Ben, who has British nationality but was largely raised in Thailand. Ben has a British father and Thai mother and members of his family that were overseas traveled to the scene of the crime, confronting the killer during a re-enactment of the murder.

Thai law requires somewhat controversial re-enactments of major crimes to properly solidify a verdict.

Chaiwat claimed to Thai police that both the victim and himself were involved in a drug deal and claimed the two got into an argument about drugs. Chaiwat stated that he felt he was being ripped off during the deal and lost his temper. Ben had attended the meeting with Chaiwat with a Thai female who he was allegedly romantically involved with and whose fate is still unknown.

Chaiwat became enraged during the argument and told Thai police he attacked and beat Ben with a wooden stick, killing him.

However, Chaiwat refused to say anything about the teenage Thai female who was with Ben who also is still missing and whose parents have pleaded for answers about.

Chaiwat had just been released from Thai prison eight months prior for sex offenses.

At the re-enactment, Ben’s father, Steven, 60, challenged the killer to look him in his eyes and acknowledge him, which the killer did not. Steven stated he hoped the murderer died in prison and stressed that his son was a good boy but still young and would never have a chance to grow up.

Steven called the murderer “Pure Evil” and he and the mother of the victim pledged to closely follow the case and ensure that justice was accomplished.

Thai police continue to hunt for clues in the case of the missing teen female that was with Ben, who is 16. Chaiwat continues to refuse to speak about her as of press time.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for more than four years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.