The self-confessed killer of a British father skipped his appearance in a Thai court because he received death threats from locals, his lawyer has said.

Roger Bullman's Norwegian lawyer, Sulman Hussain, said her client had not gone to court because he had received threats from local citizens and because of media attention.

'But he will say that he acted in self-defence and that the British citizen attacked him first,' Hussain told MailOnline today.

'He was stabbed in the upper part of the shoulder and had to defend himself.'

Bullman was thought to be on the run when he failed to turn up to court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was also photographed sunning himself by a pool before vanishing.

The 54-year-old had been enjoying his freedom despite admitting he choked Amitpal Singh Bajaj to death with his bare hands.

Norwegian thug Roger Bullman pictured sunbathing and relaxing in a hotel swimming pool as he was awaiting punishment for choking a British father to death during a row about his opera singing. He failed to show up at court this morning and it is thought he is now on the run

He was seen soaking up the rays with his arms outstretched on the poolside, as well as asleep on a sun lounger in stripey blue and white shorts (pictured). Police have no launched a man hunt to find the Norwegian

Pictures showed Bullman without a care in the world as he relaxed as if he was still on holiday in Thailand. Bullman had moved into a guest house near Caron Beach and this weekend was at the Ikon Hotel. But he suddenly left on Monday

He had been due to appear at Phuket Provincial Court this morning to assess his bail conditions after Mr Bajaj, 34, died from asphyxiation following a fight between the two men in the hotel.

The 54-year-old has been tracked down in Phuket, Thailand, where he has been staying while on bail awaiting trial for killing IT consultant Amitpal Singh Bajaj (pictured)

Instead he checked into a hotel and lazed by the swimming pool.

His lawyer Pawitra Laohaviroj made an application for his bail to be renewed despite the court requirements that he appear in person for the first time since Mr Bajaj died on August 21.

The court threw out her application after being told he had been staying at the Centara Grand Beach Resort, despite Mr Bajaj being killed there.

In fact Bullman had moved into a guest house near Caron Beach and this weekend was at the Ikon Hotel where he enjoyed a swim at the time he should have been at court.

His lawyer told MailOnline he had not come to court as he felt 'unsafe' and that he wanted to be represented by a lawyer from his native Norway.

She asked for her client to be allowed to remain on bail until September 8, but this was rejected and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He will now be sought by police and taken to a prison for flouting his bail conditions.

But on Monday he left the Ikon Hotel suddenly.

Bullman's lawyer Pawitra Laohaviroj (pictured today leaving court) made an application for his bail to be renewed despite the court requirements that he appear in person for the first time since Mr Bajaj died on August 21

Roger Bullman was seen on Friday seen enjoying his freedom in Thailand just nine days after he killed British IT consultant Amitpal Singh Bajaj after a row about him singing opera at his hotel at 4am

Bullman killed Mr Bajaj by putting him a choke hold during a melee as his victim stabbed him with a butter knife. Bullman then dragged him on to a walkway in front of their rooms (above)

Security officials were twice called to ask Bullman, a bodyguard, to refrain from waking guests next to his room 344 at the plush Centara Grand Hotel in the holiday resort of Phuket (above)

A staff member said his room was empty but he had not informed them he had left.

Police launched a man hunt as the victim's family said they were shocked he had been allowed bail despite admitting choking Mr Bajaj to death.

His father Inderbir Singh Bajaj of Southall, London, said: 'As the berieved parents of Amitpal Singh Bajaj, who was brutally strangled to death on Wednesday the 21st of August by Roger Bullman, we are angered, shocked, sad and bewildred by the extension of bail given to Bullman, who has failed to report to the courts as required today.

Bullman, a Norwegian martial arts expert, is pictured by a Thai police officer in the hotel after being stabbed in the shoulder with a butter knife during the scuffle with his victim Mr Bajaj

Bullman (pictured) and his lover Elvira had flown to Phuket from Oslo via Bangkok on August 17 on a two-week package holiday. His wife told police she slept through the whole incident

Police in Thailand search the room where the British father - who was on holiday celebrating his tenth wedding anniversary - died from his injuries in the early hours of August 21

Phuket police chief Prawit Sutthirueangarun demonstrates on a colleague how Mr Bajaj was choked by Bullman from behind - then how he tried to fight off his attacker with the knife

'We are bewildered as to why the authorities allowed a self confessed killer to roam the streets of Phuket unguarded, where he could potentially pose a lethal threat to other innocent parties.

'We also need to question his whereabouts, and if he is indeed still in Phuket or has absconded.

'His disrespect for human life, and now his total disrespect for the courts and justice system in Thailand, should be more than sufficient grounds for revoking bail and holding him incarcerated until justice can be served.'

A drawing released by police in Thailand shows how Bullman was in room number 345 and opened a door on the balcony giving him access to his neighbours staying in room 344

Police reports say Bullman barged into Mr Bajaj's room through a balcony door after complaints were made about him singing opera at 4am from his adjoining room.

He is said to have opened the sliding door and gone into their room.

A confrontation then ensued as Mrs Bandhna Bajaj escaped with her 20-month-old son Veer. She alerted hotel staff who called police.

Security officials found Mr Bajaj lying postrate with Bullman still choking him.

When police arrived, they arrested Bullman. Mr Bajaj died in hospital shortly after.

Senior police officers said Mr Bullman admitted he killed Mr Bajaj and have statements from him in which he said he would give them any help he could.

The investigation team said Bullman had not, at this stage, claimed self-defence.