|
|
Rescue workers carry out the body of Gary Poretsky from the restaurant where he was killed earlier on Saturday in Chiang Mai. Accused gunman William Douglas, right, talks to a policeman, and top, the weapon used in the shooting.
|
CHIANG MAI
American shot dead
Australian, 60, held for murder of Hawaiian in restaurant
Published on March 24, 2008
An Australian man faces a murder charge over the fatal shooting of an American in northern Thailand early on Saturday. William Thomas Douglas, aged 60, is reported to have admitted shooting Gary Booth Poretsky in a restaurant in Chiang Mai town. The reason for the shooting is unknown, but Douglas was said to have been drinking and showing off a handgun he was allegedly carrying. The two got into an argument, which ended with the American shot dead. Poretsky, 46, was shot once in the head and twice in the body at about 8am. A Chiang Mai police spokes-woman was quoted saying that Douglas had lived in Thailand for 28 years and spoke Thai well. A local woman had witnessed the shooting, she said. "A woman saw the man showing off a gun to the dead man. They had a dispute. The Thai lady watched. The Australian guy was trying to say he was a big guy in Chiang Mai," she was quoted as saying. Douglas is alleged to have run out of the Khoei Chiang Mai (In-law from Chiang Mai) restaurant on Sriphum Road straight after the incident but surrendered to police shortly after. He was being held in Chiang Mai police headquarters from Saturday, but is due to be transferred to the local prison today. Douglas is said to have been living in Sansai and working as an English teacher. There have been unconfirmed reports he was a veteran from the Vietnam War and may have been an informant for the Thai police. However, some people who have had dealings with him have questioned his sanity. He allegedly told police he was doing work for the Thai Narcotics Suppression Bureau and that he had links with senior police generals. A spokesman for the Australian embassy in Bangkok said they were aware of the case. "An Australian consular official has visited the man [Douglas] at Chiang Mai police station. Police are continuing their investigations into the matter," the spokesman said. Douglas, who is from the town of Northam in Western Australia, could also face charges for firearms offences. Police said the weapon used in the shooting was registered, but they were checking to see who the legal owner of the gun was. The policewoman said Douglas would appear before a court at a date yet to be fixed.
By Jim Pollard Daily Xpress
|
)
)
)
