New Zealander accused of masterminding murder of Korean mom in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai police on Saturday arrested a New Zealander for allegedly masterminding the murder of his Korean mother by setting it up as quarrel between his wife and the old woman.
Brian Lee, 50, was arrested and charged with masterminding the murder of An Jung Ja, 76, at a house in the Mountain View village in Tambon San Phisua in Chiang Mai’s Muang district on Thursday.
He was being detained at the Mae Ping police station.
Earlier, Lee claimed his mother had a quarrel with her daughter-in-law, Park Songhee, who then stabbed her to death out of anger. Lee said his mother became angry at the speed of Park’s response to being called, and so grabbed her daughter-in-law and slammed her head against the wall and injuring her, before Park then stabbed her.
But after checking forensic evidence and security-camera footage, police concluded that Lee had lied about the quarrel and took part in the killing of his mother.
His wife was under police watch at Chiang Mai Hospital.
Police said Lee’s mother had several apartments and businesses in South Korea, and Lee had brought her to live with the couple in Chiang Mai six months ago.