Martial artist ‘burst into Brit father’s Thai hotel room via balcony before strangling him’ after noise complaint
A NORWEGIAN martial artist accused of choking a British dad to death in a Thai hotel stormed into the alleged victim’s room via his balcony, cops said.
Roger Bullman, 53, has been charged with the manslaughter of Amitpal Singh Bajaj after launching a frenzied attack because the father from Southall, west London, confronted him for being too loud.
Police in Bangkok now say Bullman used his armed forces training to strangle Amitpal in his room in the Centara Grand Resort in Phuket where he was staying with his wife and young son.
Karon police major Techin Deethongon said: “They fought, and because of his military background the Norwegian strangled the victim.
“He confessed and said he did not think his act would cause the victim to die.”
LATE NIGHT SCRAP
Techin said the fight started when Amitpal complained about noise from Bullman’s room disturbing his family’s sleep.
Bullman, who now faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, was granted bail of 400,000 baht (around £10,750).
Bandhna Kaur Bajaj, 34, said Amitpal screamed for her to take their son, Veer, to safety as he was being choked to death.
Bandhna said: “As the man was kicking, punching and just, beating him up, my husband told me to please leave and save our son. He said, ‘Please just go, go, save Veer’.”
She said as she took their young child, she saw her husband fall to the ground and then fled the hotel before hiding in a tree.
Bandhna said she begged reception to send someone to help her husband.
“I could still hear him screaming. I didn’t want to be attacked,” she said.
“My husband sacrificed his life to save my son’s life and mine. He will always be our hero.”
Earlier the family had asked the hotel staff at the five star Centara Grand Hotel in Karon, Phuket, to intervene after the noise continued for two hours in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
‘HEARD HIM SCREAMING’
Security guards visited the room of Bullman but the noise is said to have became worse — with the Norwegian singing on the balcony.
Amitpal then allegedly grabbed a steak knife from his room and decided to confront Bullman at 4am on Wednesday, according to The Phuket News.
But troublemaker Bullman, who was drunk, allegedly refused to lower his noise and continued yelling and singing, according to the cops.
They started quarrelling which later turned into a fight.
The suspect told police that Amitpal first stabbed him in his left shoulder before he used his martial-art skills to grip the Briton in a choke hold and continued choking him to death as Ampital’s horrified wife looked on.
Bullman was arrested for manslaughter in the morning at Karon police station.
He told the police that he acted out instinctively and was not intentionally trying to kill him.
Police have said Norwegian suspect has admitted that he was arguing with Mr Bajaj and entering his room through the wood door on the balcony.
He has admitted placing Mr Bajaj in a choke hold but has said wanted to stop the victim used too much force, say the cops.
HARM RESULTING IN DEATH
Police Major Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police said that the Norwegian has been charged for ”causing harm resulting in death”.
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.
”Bullman has been released on bail by the Phuket Provincial Court. He now must remain in Thailand until the charge against has been heard in court.
”Meanwhile, British consular officials are in contact with Mr Bajaj’s family and already inform them about his tragic death.”
DEADLY FIGHT
Later Karon Police chief Col Prawit provided more details about the fatal altercation.
“Both were fighting inside the room, and (at least one) bottle was used in the fight.
“The fight continued outside the room. Mr Bullman was bigger and stronger, and had Mr Bajaj in a hold with his arm across his neck.
“Mr Bullman choked and hit Mr Bajaj until he was unconscious. A security guard arrived at the scene and saw Mr Bullman on top of Mr Bajaj while choking him with his arm.
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“The security guard shouted at Mr Bullman to stop, which he did immediately.”
A Foreign Office spokesman told The Sun Online: “We are supporting the family of a British man following his death in Phuket, and are in contact with the Thai authorities.”
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