Drunken brothers in lethal brawl after meal of lizard guts

Blood stains the road at the scene of the two brothers' deadly drunken brawl after a meal of water lizard in Sankhaburi district, Chai Nat, early Thursday morning. (Photo by Chudate Seehawong)

CHAI NAT: A man killed his elder brother with a spade as they argued after eating a meal of cooked lizard entrails and drinking in Sankhaburi district early on Thursday.

Police called to the scene found the body of Sukhon Nilthab, 50, lying face down with multiple bloody wounds on his head near his house in Moo 11 village of tambon Dong Khon about 4am.

They later arrested his younger brother Prathuan Nilthab, 38, and friend Jongrak Yoddamnoen, 42.

Police said the siblings invited Mr Jongrak to join them for drinks and a meal at their home, where they intended to eat a road-kill water monitor they had found. They cooked a meal of spicy fried entrails and were busy getting drunk when the brothers started to argue and then fight.

Sukhon broke away and grabbed a hoe as his brother ran after him armed with a spade.

Mr Prathuan allegedly hit his elder brother repeatedly with the spade. Then he threw it away and hid nearby.

He later told police he did not intend to kill his elder brother.

Relatives said the two brothers regularly quarrelled when they were drinking.