March 19, 2008
BANGKOK - A 31-year-old Akradet Tankae was arrested early Wednesday over the killing and attempted rape of a Swedish tourist last weekend on the resort isle of Phuket, police said.
Akradet was arrested in Ranong after his relatives contacted police and said they would turn him over.
Akradet is a sea gypsy, part of a nomadic community that wanders across Thai and Myanmar islands in the Andaman Sea.
He had fled to Myanmar to avoid arrest, but his father convinced him to return to Thailand and turn himself in, Phuket's provincial police commander Decha Budnampetch told AFP.
"He was arrested at 1:00 am and initially confessed that he did it alone," Decha said.
"He said he wanted to rape her, but when she resisted, he attacked her," Decha said.
Hanna Charlotta Backlund, 27, was stabbed to death in broad daylight Saturday when she left her bungalow to take a swim on the usually quiet Mai Khao beach.
She checked into the bungalow on March 6 with a female friend.
Akradet approached Backlund from behind and demanded sex, threatening her with a knife. As she resisted, Akradet stabbed her more than 20 times, according to a police statement.
Police later charged Akradet with premeditated murder.
In 2006, Akaradet was arrested for allegedly stealing cash and assets worth 5.2 million baht (165,000 dollars) from a British tourist in Phuket. He was later released on bail and is defending himself at a local court.
