Travel Forum / Destinations / Asia / March 2008

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Police arrest Hanna's suspected killer

Akkaradej Tunkae, 31, has been charged with the murder of Hanna
Backlund.

PHUKET CITY: After a regional manhunt for the killer of Swedish
tourist Hanna Charlotta Backlund, 26, whose body was found at Mai Khao
Beach on Saturday, police have arrested and charged with murder their
prime suspect after he gave himself up in Ranong province early this
morning.

Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Tavat Boonfueng led a team to
Ranong to bring Akkaradej Tunkae, 31, back to Phuket, arriving at Tah
Chat Chai Police Station in a police van at 5:30 am, it was announced
at a press conference this morning.

Akkaradej allegedly told police that he had watched Miss Backlund and
her friend Emma Stenman at Mai Khao Beach for three days until on
Saturday he spotted Miss Backlund sunbathing alone.

He approached Miss Backlund from behind, with a kitchen knife in his
right hand taken from his home in Thalang, police said.

He grabbed Miss Backlund by her throat with his left hand and, when
she attempted to break free, stabbed her in the neck, stomach and side
of her body, police added.

After rushing to his home on his motorcycle, he cleaned the knife and
hid it in a closet before he changed his clothes, said police.

On Sunday morning, Akkaradej and his daughter traveled by bus to a
relative's home in Chumphon province, police told reporters.

After hearing media reports that police had spoken to locals and were
moving in on a prime suspect in the murder, Akkaradej left his
daughter in the care of his relative and traveled to a friend's home
in Ranong, the police said.

Akkaradej called his wife and father and told them where he was, which
the pair then reported to police. Last night at Tah Chat Chai Police
Station, Akkaradej's father persuaded him by phone to give himself up,
the police said.

With Akkaradej's wife and father present, police took Akkaradej into
custody in Baan Tublee, Ranong province, at 1:35 am.

Lt Gen Thanee Thawisri, commander of Royal Thai Police Region 8, said,
"The knife has been found and will be sent to Surat Thani for testing.
We will have the results of DNA tests soon and will take samples from
the suspect's clothes, finger nails and tissue."

Akkaradej said, "I feel bad about everything that has happened. The
night after I did it I went back to my home and cried. I feel hurt and
sad for [Miss Backlund's] family and also for my family. I accept
everything that I did because I feel pity for my own daughter."

The case will be sent to court within one month, said police.

The 100,000-baht reward offered by local businesses for information
leading to the arrest will be given to Akkaradej's wife and father,
police added.

Christina Palm, acting Swedish consul, told reporters, "I am very
happy that the police arrested the suspect so quickly. I would like to
thank all the officers involved in this case."