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An American tourist has been murdered in Thailand after a row in a karaoke bar over The Eagles 'Hotel California'.
Associated Press reports that Bobby Ray Carter was killed in Little Longhorn Saloon, a popular tourist destination in Thailand, after visiting a karaoke bar in the region with his 27-year-old son, Adam. The 51-year-old is said to have become enraged when the band at the venue played The Eagles track instead of the song he wanted to perform.
"Witnesses said Carter got angry when the band played ‘Hotel California’ instead of the song he requested, and he refused to step down," said Krabi city police chief Col. Taksin Pochakorn in a statement. The incident was revealed by local police on Wednesday 31 July, 2013.
It is reported that after the band failed to perform Carter's chosen track and then took a break, he remained on stage arguing with the band.
"He then demanded the money he had already given as a tip back. But the real fight broke out outside of that pub," Lieutenant Colonel Attapong Seanjaiwuth of Krabi tourist police told the press. "He was stabbed twice and died while on the way to local hospital."
Reports state that Carter was stabbed with an iron rod and that his son suffered injuries - although reports are conflicting as to what those injuries are. The band from the karaoke bar were later arrested outside the venue and charged with 'causing death by physical attack'.
A statement from one of the accused musicians admits the attack, but denies any intention to kill the tourist.
"We accept that we attacked them, but we didn’t intend to kill anyone. The father and son came to the pub and they joined us singing on the stage," said Ratikorn Romin in a police statement. "Then we had an argument with them because they refused to stop singing when the time was up. The father knocked our tip-box to the floor. We left the stage and sat [outside] in front of the bar.
"After a while they came outside and started another argument with us. The father knocked me to the ground first, and I could not breathe because he was sitting on my chest. Then I spotted a sharp piece of metal nearby, so I grabbed it and stabbed him."
