Wife of Brit murdered in Thailand describes horror attack
The wife of a British tourist choked to death in his hotel room in Thailand has described the horror moment a naked man burst into their room.
Tributes have been paid to “hero” Amitpal Singh Bajaj who is said to have died protecting his family.
The 34-year-old from Southall, west London, was beaten up by Norwegian martial arts expert Roger Bullman, 53, who was staying in the room next door at the five-star Centara Grand Hotel on Karon Beach in Phuket, Thailand.
Police in the country reported Mr Bajaj had complained to the fellow guest about loud noise and that a fight then broke out.
Bandhna Kaur Bajaj said she and her husband, who were on holiday with their two-year-old son, had been woken by loud noises from the neighbouring room in the early hours of Wednesday, and found that someone was trying to knock open their balcony door.
In a statement released through the Sikh Press Association she said a naked white man “barged in through the balcony door and stormed aggressively” towards her husband.
Mrs Bajaj added: “My husband tried to block the man and move me and my son away. As the man was kicking, punching and just beating him up my husband told me to please leave and save our son.”
She said she ran from the hotel and hid with her son under a tree near the spa, from where she called the reception for help.
The woman learned of her husband’s death after he was taken to hospital at around 4am that day.
She added: “My husband sacrificed his life to save my son’s life and mine. He will always be our hero.”
The Phuket News reported Thai police as saying Mr Bajaj had confronted the Norwegian tourist in the next room for making too much noise while his family was trying to sleep.
The news site quoted Karon Chief Police Col Prawit as saying the pair began arguing and a fight broke out and that the Norwegian man had broken in to Mr Bajaj’s room via the balcony.
The police chief said: “Mr Bullman was drunk and causing so much noise that hotel security came to warn Mr Bullman twice.
“Mr Bajaj carried a steak knife into Mr Bullman’s room. They started fighting and Mr Bajaj stabbed Mr Bullman in left shoulder.
“Then Mr Bullman had Mr Bajaj in a chokehold, and continued to choke him.
“Mr Bullman had previously been trained in marital arts, but he said he did not attempt to kill Mr Bajaj.
“He didn’t think that Mr Bajaj had died.”
The man was arrested and has been charged with manslaughter and trespass by an act of violence, the news site reported.
A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man following his death in
Phuket, and are in contact with the Thai authorities.”
A memorial event is due to take place for Mr Bajaj on Sunday evening at his local Sikh temple.
Harmeet Singh Gill, the temple’s general secretary, said the community was “shocked and saddened” to learn of Mr Bajaj’s death “whilst protecting his family”.
He added: “He was well-known, admired and respected in the community for his seva (voluntary work). We pray to the almighty to give his friends and family the strength to get through these difficult times and to obtain justice.”
