Murder Manhunt For Brit Kickboxer In Thailand
A manhunt is underway for a British kickboxer wanted for the brutal murder of an American tourist in a Thai island resort.
Police are searching the island of Phuket for Lee Aldhouse, who is suspected of stabbing to death Dashawn Longfellow, 23.
Mr Longfellow was killed in his room at the Ya Nui Paradise Resort hotel and had been stabbed several times, said police lieutenant Anukul Nuket.
Nuket said Aldhouse, 28, was known for "getting drunk and picking fights and bragging that he's invincible".
Witnesses told how Aldhouse and Mr Longfellow had come to blows in the Freedom Bar in the Rawai area of the island in the hours before the killing.
Aldhouse was a regular at the bar and had trained in the Thai kickboxing sport Muay Thai, police said.
Mr Longfellow's girlfriend, known as “Ooyâ€, told the local Phuket Gazette newspaper that he had come on his motorbike to pick her up from work at 1am.
"Ooy" said he stayed for a few beers while he waited for her to finish at around 2am.
Witnesses said that a fight erupted when Mr Longfellow went to the toilet and found the entrance blocked by Aldhouse.
Phuket Island, Thailand
Thailand's Phuket island is a haven for Western tourists
The Gazette reported that the fight was broken up and Mr Longfellow - who had apparently got the better of his opponent - took his girlfriend home.
Police said it appeared that Aldhouse had followed Mr Longfellow back to the hotel and another fight took place. Mr Longfellow was then stabbed to death.
Aldhouse had lived in Thailand for several years and was known for his strength and fighting ability.
He had been scheduled to fight former Muay Thai world champion and long term Phuket resident Jomhod Kiatadisak but pulled out of the fight at the last minute due to injury.
According to the tourism website Phuket Wan police have a copy of Aldhouse's passport and the suspect is known to be short of money.
According to the website he was recently the victim of a hit-and-run accident.
Mr Longfellow, a US Marine, had been in Phuket following a combat injury sustained in Afghanistan, friends said.
TBWG