Thai prostitute plunges to her death during 'extravagant' balcony sex with British man
25-year-old British tourist Reece Vella was arrested this past Saturday in Pattaya, Thailand, in connection with the death of a prostitute who fell naked five floors from the balcony of the hotel where they had been staying. Footage of the incident captures police arresting Vella at the nearby Route CC Roadhouse bar at 4 pm on Sunday.
The prostitute in question is one 26-year-old Wannipa Janhuathon, known more commonly by her nickname of Joy. She is said to have suffered severe head injuries and multiple fractures after the fall and was found naked along with a half-empty packet of what appeared to be sex-drugs. She miraculously survived the steep fall, with paramedics managing to perform CPR on her and keep her alive and breathing. Unfortunately, she would later pass away in the hospital.
When police arrived at the scene at 5:30 am local time and searched the premises, they found clothes and used condoms, as well as a packet of Kamagra oral jelly. Sources close to the investigation say that the Viagra-related gel was the first clue that Joy had not been alone in the apartment that night.
CCTV footage helped police narrow Birmingham native Vella as the suspect and he was subsequently tracked down and apprehended. He was found to be in possession of two mobile phones, one of which apparently belonged to Joy.
As Vella is arrested, he can be heard asking to be uncuffed before laughing to himself and asking for a cigarette. He would later admit to the police that he had taken Joy back to his rented room and had sex with her in the bedroom and balcony before she fell to her death. He then claimed he was so distraught, that he had to go live in a different hotel.
Joy had moved from her hometown in Sakon Nakhon province and was working at the Sky Bar located in Soi 6 street, infamous for its prostitutes who work in its bars and massage parlors. The local authorities say that Vella had arrived at the bar earlier in the evening, agreed on a fee of 1,500 baht (£35) with Joy, and then left for his room at the hotel.
The building's security guard, 23-year-old Kriengsak Khamchachai, described hearing a 'loud crash' as Joy fell to her death. Alarmed, he went to inspect the noise and found her body in a pool of blood. He would call for help but her injuries would prove to be too grave.
Police Lieutenant Narong Chantra, the deputy head of investigations at the Pattaya Police, said that Vella was arrested on suspicion of 'negligence causing others to die' and 'overstaying his visa in excess of 59 days,' and that he fled the scene because he knew he was in the country illegally on an expired visa,
Speaking of the freak accident, Chantra said: "CCTV from the incident was examined, and after checking evidence at the hotel, the suspect was found to be Mr Reece Vella, a British citizen aged 25. An arrest warrant was issued after evidence was presented to the court. The police case is that, on the day of the incident, Mr Vella visited the bar and paid to take Miss Wannipa away."
"Miss Wannipa and Mr Vella were having very strange, extravagant sex on the balcony until she fell down below and died. Mr Vella was in shock and knowing that he had overstayed his visa, ran away and kept her mobile phone in his bag and left the room. Mr Vella has been arrested on suspicion of negligence causing others to die, overstaying his visa in excess of 59 days, and stealing a motorcycle at night. The foreign suspect will be processed and prosecuted in accordance with the law," he added.
Staff at the venue called Joy one of the 'happiest, friendliest girls anybody could wish to meet.' They released a statement in her memory which read: "As many of you know, we lost our beautiful Joy [on Saturday] morning. The place will not be the same without Joy's big, cheeky smile and sense of humor. She was a really special girl and left a lasting impression on all of us. She will remain in our hearts forever."
Vella has since been interviewed by the Thai police. The heavily built West Midlands man was reportedly seen in handcuffs and looking unkempt as he answered questions from Pattaya Police Chief Apichai Krobpetch.