Late-night dispute in Pattaya condo leaves British man injured; police hunt four transgender women
Pattaya police are investigating a violent late-night confrontation that left a 65-year-old British man with a deep head wound after an argument over payment at a high-rise condominium in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district. The injured man, identified as Duncan Hamish Kirkwood, was discovered bleeding on the 20th floor and rushed to a local hospital after what authorities describe as an escalated money dispute involving a group of transgender women.
The incident unfolded just after midnight on September 12. Police Lieutenant Manasak Phonliam, Deputy Inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, received the emergency call and dispatched officers together with Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue workers to the scene. First responders found Kirkwood with a deep laceration in the center of his head; blood was streaming down his face as medics administered first aid before he was taken to hospital.
According to the initial account given to police, Kirkwood had arranged to meet two women for companionship. When he opened the door to his 20th-floor apartment, however, four transgender women allegedly entered the room. When Kirkwood refused the services they purportedly offered, the visitors refused to leave and demanded 10,000 baht each — a total of 40,000 baht. The situation allegedly deteriorated into a heated argument and one of the assailants is accused of slashing Kirkwood with a knife during the confrontation.
Kirkwood managed to flee the apartment and alert building security, but the group had already left the scene by the time police arrived. Authorities say CCTV from the condominium is being reviewed closely. Investigators believe the suspects were captured on camera and are combing footage to identify and track them down, local media reported.
Pol. Lt. Manasak confirmed that Kirkwood will be questioned further once his condition stabilises and said police are confident they will bring those responsible to justice. “We are examining the building’s CCTV and interviewing witnesses,” he said. “We expect to identify the suspects and proceed with arrests.”
What the footage could reveal
High-rise condominiums in Pattaya commonly have layered security — reception, guards, and CCTV — and investigators are hopeful that a combination of camera angles will help tie a timeline together: who entered the building, how long the group stayed, which exits they used, and whether any vehicle movements can be matched to the suspects. In cases like this, small details on camera — clothing, bags, or the route taken through the building — can be crucial.
Context: another recent late-night altercation
This is not the first headline-grabbing late-night spat involving a transgender person in Pattaya this month. On September 5, a 25-year-old Indian tourist was struck on the head with a high-heeled shoe during an argument with a 29-year-old transgender sex worker along the busy Pattaya Beach strip, leaving the tourist with a head injury. While different in circumstances, that incident underlines how quickly disagreements can escalate after hours in tourist-heavy zones.
Safety takeaways for residents and visitors
Stories like this should remind visitors and condo residents to take simple precautions that reduce risk: meet new companions in public or semi-public places first, avoid inviting groups into private apartments without verification, keep building security informed of visitors, and, when possible, have a trusted friend nearby or a check-in plan. If a payment demand escalates or you feel threatened, prioritise getting to a safe location and contacting building security or local authorities immediately.
Investigations are continuing. Pattaya City Police and rescue workers from Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan are reviewing CCTV footage and witness statements, and have pledged to pursue the suspects. Meanwhile, Duncan Hamish Kirkwood remains in hospital and is expected to be questioned once he recovers sufficiently.
Local authorities urge anyone with information — or anyone who may have seen suspicious entrants or vehicles near the high-rise condominium in Nong Prue in the early hours of September 12 — to come forward and assist the investigation.
This is terrifying and raises so many questions about safety in Pattaya condos. CCTV should make this easy to solve but I worry about victim blaming and assumptions about the people involved.
Why is CCTV always treated like a magic bullet? Footage is often low quality and angles miss crucial seconds.
Good point — I meant it as helpful but not foolproof. The article even notes camera angles and blind spots matter.
As someone who runs a farm with cameras I can tell you angles and timestamps are everything, and editing or gaps happen all the time.
We should also consider how language in reporting frames transgender people primarily as suspects; that can inflame prejudice and complicate investigations.
If someone demands money and slashes you, that’s assault. Period. They should be arrested quickly.
Yes, but context matters. Were there misunderstandings? And why invite strangers upstairs late at night?
Victim blaming is obvious here. The injured man was hurt; focus should be on the attack and catching suspects.
Not blaming, just pointing out risks. Advice section in the article literally says meet in public first.
Advice is fine but not the same as blaming the victim. Safety tips shouldn’t excuse violent crime.
Why is the story emphasizing the suspects’ gender identity? That seems sensationalist and could feed moral panic.
Because it’s part of the facts. People deserve to know who police are looking for. Omitting it would be dishonest.
Reporting identity can be factual, but context and tone matter. Repeatedly highlighting ‘transgender’ without nuance can stigmatize an entire community.
Police need tips. If anyone recognizes the people on camera, call the station now. Public safety is at stake.
I live nearby and the building cameras sometimes show everything. I’ll contact the condo guard to check footage and notify police.
Thanks for the reminder, OfficerK. Community cooperation is key and I hope neighbors come forward without fear.
This story makes me nervous to travel to Pattaya. Is the city safe for solo tourists at night?
Pattaya is fine if you use common sense. Don’t wander into private rooms with strangers and keep your phone charged.
Tourist areas have risks like anywhere. This incident seems targeted and unusual, not a daily occurrence.
I’m skeptical of the 40,000 baht demand bit. That feels like a narrative meant to shock and sells papers.
Whether true or exaggerated, it illustrates an attempted extortion. Police will verify exact details during interviews.
Fair, but media needs to be careful with unverified specifics to avoid creating moral panics.
As a queer person, I’m worried this will fuel transphobic reactions. We need measured responses and fairness in reporting.
Exactly. Also consider the economic and social pressures that push people into sex work. Demonizing individuals simplifies complex issues.
Socioeconomic context is important, but assault and extortion are crimes regardless of cause.
Anyone else find it odd the article mentions a previous fight with a high-heeled shoe? It reads like they’re linking random incidents to create a trend.
Journalists often add context, but it can feel like pattern-seeking when unrelated cases are strung together.
The comparison might be to show escalation in late-night conflicts, but yes it risks implying a causal pattern where none is proven.
Good that police are confident, but confidence doesn’t equal evidence. I hope they have solid leads before charging anyone.
We never charge without evidence. CCTV and witness statements are our best tools, but we proceed cautiously.
Thanks for clarifying. Transparency helps build trust with the community.
This is a reminder: never let unknown people into your private space. Period.
Simple safety tips are useful, but they’re not a catch-all solution. Assault can happen even with precautions.
True, but minimizing risks where we can is sensible. I’d rather be paranoid than injured.
What about the condo security? Why were guards unable to stop four people leaving if they were seen on camera?
Condo guards often lack legal power to detain people. They can watch footage and call police but immediate stops are rare.
Then condos should strengthen protocols. Security theater isn’t enough when real crimes happen.
People keep mentioning sex work like it’s shameful. Consent and safety should be the focus, not moralizing about professions.
Yes, destigmatizing sex work is important. But asking for payment and then allegedly assaulting someone is criminal and separate from consensual transactions.
If the suspects are transgender, will the police treat this differently? I’m worried about bias in the investigation.
That’s a valid concern. Human rights groups often monitor whether investigations are impartial and respectful of all parties’ rights.
Our mandate is to investigate facts. We do not treat cases differently based on gender identity, and any bias is unacceptable.
What a mess. People should be careful who they meet from apps and verify background before inviting them up.
Agreed. App culture normalizes risky behaviors; maybe platforms should encourage safer meetups in public spaces.
The demand of 10,000 baht each sounds like extortion. That’s not negotiation, it’s robbery by another name.
Exactly. And slashing someone is attempted murder or grievous bodily harm, regardless of the backstory.
I just want the suspects caught. The harm is very real.
I’m concerned about tourists getting targeted. Local authorities should increase patrols in tourist-heavy condos at night.
Increased patrols help, but community awareness and concierge checks are more practical for condo complexes.
This will probably be used politically to argue for stricter policing or immigration controls. Be cautious of knee-jerk policy changes.
Politicians love to weaponize isolated incidents. Policy should be based on data not headlines.
Exactly. Better to support targeted safety measures than broad punitive laws that harm marginalized people.
I feel bad for the injured man. Hope he recovers and that justice follows swiftly.
Same here. Medical recovery and psychological support are crucial after violent assaults.
The way the media frames sex workers often strips them of agency. We should demand balanced reporting with quotes from experts.
Agreed. Including voices from sex worker advocacy groups and human rights observers would add necessary context.
That would reduce sensationalism and help create policy that protects everyone.
People keep making excuses for criminals because of their social status. If they did it, lock them up.
No one is excusing violence. Context doesn’t equal justification; it helps prevent future incidents through policy.
Policy is fine but justice must be swift. Crime victims can’t wait for sociological studies.
Can we stop using the term ‘transgender women’ as a shorthand for criminality? It’s damaging and unhelpful.
We need to name identities factually when relevant, but not imply causation. Responsibility lies with the alleged perpetrators.
The condo should publish a timeline of events if they want to help the investigation. Silence breeds conspiracy theories.
Police coordinate with property management on public statements to avoid compromising evidence or tipping off suspects.
Understood, but transparency helps public trust. Even limited info would calm residents.
This is why I always book hotels with 24/7 reception. Buildings where people can come and go freely feel less safe.
Hotels have their own issues, but front desk staff can deter some kinds of criminal behavior.
Will the man face any scrutiny for soliciting? Some commenters are quick to defend him but legality varies by place.
Even if solicitation is illegal, that doesn’t justify assault. Legal scrutiny and criminal accountability are separate matters.
Right. The focus should be on violent crime first, then legal questions can follow in proper channels.
I hope reporters follow up and give updates on the investigation, rather than leaving the accused unnamed and the story open-ended.
Follow-ups are essential. This story will affect tourism and local residents, so accuracy over speed is key.
Exactly. Responsible journalism matters for community safety and fairness.
I wonder what the condo’s visitor logging policy is. If there’s no sign-in, that’s a huge security gap.
Many condos rely on intercoms and guards who don’t check IDs. It’s complacency, not malice.
Complacency can have serious consequences. Time for policy reviews.
Appreciate the range of takes here. Let’s hope the investigation is thorough and that communities learn pragmatic safety lessons without scapegoating anyone.
Well said. Balancing safety, fairness, and civil liberties is the challenge, and public dialogue like this helps shape better responses.
As long as ‘fairness’ doesn’t mean sheltering criminals. Evidence first, then mercy if deserved.