A British woman has been arrested for the murder of her boyfriend in Thailand after allegedly stabbing him and claiming it was suicide. Isabelle Violet Carreras, 20, from Stafford, is accused of attacking Thomas David Powell, 33, from Stoke-on-Trent, with a 20-inch machete at a luxury villa in Pattaya.
Discovery of the body
Thomas's body was discovered on Thursday morning after his British friend Charlie, 33, became concerned when his phone went unanswered. Charlie visited the luxury housing estate in the Bang Lamung district, where he found the villa in disarray and Thomas's corpse in the shower before calling the police.
Police said the businessman is believed to have been dead for around six hours before being discovered. Officers found blood stains on tiles and cabinets, while blood-soaked towels and rags were strewn across the floor from suspected attempts to clean up the scene.
Suspect's claims
Isabelle was filmed saying: 'It was after he did it, he realised how much he was bleeding, and he was walking around, and I tried calling an ambulance, but I couldn't call an ambulance in time, I don't want him to go.' She claimed Thomas's death was a suicide, adding that he was 'really into grass recently' and that he 'had been taking six strips of Valium daily'.
Investigators said evidence at the scene contradicted her claims. They reportedly found cuts on Isabelle's fingers and signs of a struggle at the property. The 20-inch machete discovered in the kitchen sink had allegedly been washed and wiped clean.
Police investigation
Police Colonel Nattapon Phongsuksakul said officers were reviewing CCTV at the home to determine what really happened. He said: 'Based on the wounds, it is difficult for us to accept that claim because there was clearly a stab wound to the back. There were multiple injuries across the body, including both slash and stab wounds. The fatal wound was a stab to the left side of the back, showing a direct plunging motion.'
'We firmly believe this was not a suicide as she claimed. What makes us doubt her account further is that she washed the knife. The weapon used was a machete, and washing it suggests an attempt to conceal evidence. There is also CCTV footage from inside the house.'
Isabelle has since been charged with murder.
