Thai cop wanted for Brits' murders surrenders

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KANCHANABURI, Thailand (Reuters) - A Thai policeman accused of murdering a British couple has surrendered to police after almost a month on the run.

Detective Sergeant Somchai Visetsingha gave himself up near the Thai-Myanmar border on Thursday, but declined to comment on allegations he had killed British tourists Adam LLoyd, 25, and Vanessa Arscott, 24.

"I can only say that I was hurt," Somchai, who was charged with murder, told reporters when asked if he had killed the tourists.

Somchai is accused of shooting Lloyd after a heated argument in a restaurant that the policeman owned in Kanchanaburi, near the Bridge over the River Kwai, a popular tourist spot 125 km (80 miles) west of Bangkok, on September 9.

He is accused of killing Arscott with his car as she tried to flee in the early hours of the morning.

Police said Somchai was flown from his border hideout in a military helicopter to Kanchanaburi police headquarters where he would be interrogated.

Thai ITV television reported on Thursday that Somchai was staying with Karen rebels along the border before he offered to surrender to police on Monday.

Looking tried in a green military T-shirt and in handcuffs, Somchai was brought into a police station where British Ambassador Andy Pearce expressed his satisfaction and commended Thai police for arresting one of their own.

A police officer told Reuters they would take Somchai for a reenactment of the crime at the scene later on Thursday.