Boonlua Chatree
The Norwegian man accused of killing the owner of
Hotel Selection Pattaya in a bar fight has been released on bail after
turning himself into police.
Previously identified by witnesses only as “Babu,”
Bjorn Robert Ellingsen, 36, surrendered to Pattaya Police Sept. 26. He
was charged with deadly assault and released on 200,000 baht bail.
Ellingsen is accused of killing Jarle Nyegaard, 43,
who suffered a fractured skull in the early morning Sept. 20 fight at
the Kare Party Bar on Second Road. He died later that day at Pattaya
Memorial Hospital.
The suspect was witnessed fleeing after a loud
argument that saw Nyegaard fall and strike his head on the edge of the
bar.
Ellingsen and Nyegaard both hailed from the Norwegian
city of Bergen. The victim emigrated to Thailand in 2007 and owned and
operated the former Pattaya Princess Hotel on Beach Road at Soi 6.
Trond Solberg, 59, told police he, Nyegaard and
Ellingsen were drinking in the Tim Beer Bar until around 2 a.m. before
moving to the Norwegian-owned beer bar, where they stayed until drunk.
Around 5 a.m., he heard his two companions arguing, then a loud thud. He
turned to see Nyegaard bleeding on the floor and Ellingsen running from
the scene.
