Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum said on Thursday (Sept 5) that evidence obtained by investigators now pointed to suicide as a possibility, reports the Bangkok Post.
Investigators were told that the deceased had exhibited psychotic behaviour and used marijuana, which might have caused hallucinations, nervous symptoms and other behaviours that led to use of violence, said Pol Maj Gen Sinlert.
According to the man’s Russian wife, her husband had tried to commit suicide several times.
Investigators are gathering more evidence before holding a press conference about the cause of death, said the police chief.
The Russian man had multiple injuries, including wounds near his eyes, severe bruising around his left ear and deep cuts on both arms. It appeared he had been bludgeoned with a hard object.
His body was found in the ditch near the Naga statue along the road fronting Karon beach on Tuesday.
Doctors estimated he had been dead for at least eight hours before his body was found.
Police initially believed he had been killed elsewhere and his body dumped there.
If you or anyone you know is in need of emotional support and counselling, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand at their hotline 02-113-6789 (English & Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).