A British tourist was interviewed in handcuffs today after being arrested over the death of a bar girl who fell from a balcony as they had sex.
Reece Vella, 25, from Birmingham, took Wannipa Janhuathon, 26, from a bar on Soi 6 and went back to the Cosy Beach View condominium.
But at around 5.30am on Saturday morning Wannipa plunged to her death from the fifth floor room.
Vella was arrested on Sunday afternoon and admitted fleeing the scene of the accident. He was pictured being questioned at Pattaya police station this afternoon.
Police Lieutenant Narong Chantra, deputy head of investigations at Pattaya Police, said Vella had been arrested on suspicion of ‘’negligence causing others to die’’ and fled the scene in panic knowing that he was staying in the country illegally on an expired visa.
He said: ‘’CCTV from the incident was examined and after checking evidence at the hotel the suspect was found to be Mr Reece Vella, a British citizen, aged 25 years.
‘’An arrest warrant was issued after evidence was presented to the court. The police case is that on the day of the incident Mr Vella visited the bar and paid to take Miss Wannipa away.
”Miss Wannipa and Mr Vella were having very strange, extravagant sex on the balcony until she fell down below and died.
‘’Mr Vella was in shock and knowing that he had overstayed his visa ran away and kept her mobile phone in his bag and left the room.
‘’Mr Vella has been arrested on suspicion of negligence causing others to die, overstaying his visa in excess of 59 days and stealing a motorcycle at night.
‘’The foreign suspect will be processed and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
The bar girl, also known by the nickname Joy, had moved from her home town in Sakon Nakhon province, and was at a bar on Soi 6.
Thai police said that Vella arrived at the venue earlier in the evening before agreeing a fee then leaving with Wannipa and going to his rented room.
But police claim that the pair had been having what translates as ‘’fancy or extravagant’’ sex on the balcony before Wannipa fell to her death – along with a packet of Kamagra oral jelly which was found next to her body at around 5.30am local time.
Sources close to the investigation said that the packet of Viagra-related gel which fell along with her body, gave them the first clue that Wannipa had not been alone – and had actually been mid-way through sex when she plunged naked to the ground.
The building’s security guard Kriengsak Khamchachai, 23, described hearing a ”loud crash” as the Wannipa hit the floor. He then walked over and saw her body in a pool of blood before raising the alarm.
Paramedics arrived and performed CPR on Wannipa – who was still alive – but she was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Devastated staff at the venue, whose owner also passed away a few months ago, said Wannipa was one of the ‘’happiest, friendliest girls anybody could wish to meet’’.
They added in a statement: ‘’As many of you know we lost our beautiful Joy [on Saturday] morning.
”The place will not be the same without Joy’s big cheeky smile and sense of humour.
”She really was a very special girl and left a lasting impression on all of us. She will remain in our hearts forever.’’
