A soldier who fled his post in Lopburi is behind bars for allegedly stabbing and slashing his ex-girlfriend to death in a jealous rage on Walking Street.
Pvt. Santirat Raksapakdi, 21, was subdued by shocked Pattaya residents and tourists after savagely attacking Wilailak Pidtathasa, 33, outside a 7-Eleven on the nightlife strip Nov. 5. Stabbed repeatedly and her throat cut, the Samut Prakan native died of her injuries and massive blood loss at Pattaya Memorial Hospital.
The attack came about 7pm as Walking Street began to fill up with revelers and bar employees. Wilailak and a female friend had just entered the area with two Australian companions when Santirat allegedly leaped out and plunged the knife into her back.
Pvt. Santirat Raksapakdi has been remanded in custody, charged with the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend.
Her Australian partner tried to beat back the attacker, but was cut in the hands. As Wilailak crumpled to the ground, the conscript, absent without leave from a camp in Lopburi, laid down beside her and whispered in her ear.
Police arriving at the scene took a long, curved-blade knife and a 15cm meat cleaver from the suspect.
Police said the conscript confessed he had been in a relationship with Wilailak for almost two years. But after he was drafted into the army, the two grew apart and the victim broke up with him.
Hearing the woman had been seen in the company of foreign men, Santirat went AWOL from the military base to try and reconcile. After she spurned his overtures, he reportedly bought the knives off a Pattaya street vendor.
