George Patrick Dubie, 56, was killed on Sunday night by Margaret Crane, 48 who was detained shortly after the shooting, Police Col Chamnan Raudrew said.

Chamnan said Dubie had worked as a freelance producer for CNN, but the American TV station's Bangkok bureau said it had no knowledge of the man.

Witnesses told police that the couple had a row in a downtown restaurant when the woman pulled out a pistol and fired three shots before fleeing in a car.

Police set up checkpoints and arrested Crane. The couple was reported to have seven children.

"She only said that the victim is a freelancer for CNN but refused to answer questions about the shooting," Chamnan said.

It was alleged yesterday that Crane accused Dubie of improper behaviour with one of their children, domestic violence, and having a 30-year-old Thai mistress.

In another killing of a foreigner, police said Leonard Healey, 33, from New Zealand, was stabbed to death early on Sunday by a Thai teenager in a love quarrel over a 19-year-old woman.

Police Capt Thanapath Sookmee said they were searching for Winai Saisudjai, a 29-year-old clerk who had an argument with Healey during a drinking session. Winai reportedly stabbed Healey four times before fleeing.

Healey had been teaching English at a secondary school in Thailand for several years, police said.