• 
• 

Published on February 14, 2008

Erik Griffioen, 50, was with his wife Elizabeth, 49, on their way to a hilltribe tour when he suddenly slumped forward.

Police said the man's wife found blood on her husband's back and banged on the window to stop the vehicle. Her husband was then rushed to MacCormack Hospital.

Griffioen was said to have lapsed into a coma, but officials said later his condition was not life-threatening.

Police said they were mystified by the incident and believe it may be an accident. The nature of his wound suggested Griffioen - a lecturer at the University of Toronto - was shot from above and police speculated the .22 bullet may have been shot at a bird on a nearby power line.

The songtaew was on the San Kampaeng road on its way into town, about a kilometre from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where the couple were staying.

The songtaew driver told police he had no conflicts with other individuals.

The incident is the third serious shooting involving Canadians in Thailand this year.

On January 6, two young Canadians were shot - one fatally - in the northern town of Pai by an off-duty policeman while walking to a bar late at night. Leo del Pinto, 24, died from shots to the head and heart, while his friend Carly Reisig, 24, was shot near the heart.

Sgt Uthai Dechawiwat, who many witnesses described as being drunk, has claimed his gun discharged accidentally during a scuffle with the two tourists. He pleaded not guilty in Mae Hong Son Court last week to charges of murder and attempted murder. Then on February 3, Canadian expatriate Dale Henry, 47, was shot dead in his home in Ranong. Police later charged his Thai wife Maneerat, her boyfriend and a gunman with the murder.

Maneerat admitted organising the killing and paying Bt30,000 to a gunman, who entered Henry's home through a door his wife had left unlocked.

She has reportedly claimed her husband bashed her. But the victim's family believes the real motive was greed. Henry, who worked for an oil firm in Africa, had taken out a $1-million (Bt32 million) insurance policy and his wife was reportedly the beneficiary.

Henry's family have flown in this week to take part in his funeral. He is due to be cremated in Ranong on Saturday.

Jim Pollard

The Nation