American killed in Thailand over singing dispute

BANGKOK (AP) - An American tourist who insisted on singing with the band in a bar in a beach town in Thailand was killed by one of the musicians, police said Wednesday.

Bobby Ray Carter Jr., 51, died at a hospital of a stab wound in his chest after a brawl broke out early Wednesday at the bar at Ao Nang beach in Krabi province, police Lt. Col. Jongrak Pimthong said.

He said Carter, a Texas native, was intoxicated, began singing with the band and refused to leave the stage to let other customers sing.

"Witnesses said Carter got angry when the band played "Hotel California' instead of the song he requested, and he refused to step down," Krabi city police chief Col. Taksin Pochakorn said.

Police said the band then stopped playing, and Carter and his 27-year-old son got into a furious argument with the musicians.

Jongrak said Carter was stabbed in his chest with an iron rod during the fight outside the bar and his son was injured in the head.

The three band members were arrested and face charges of causing death by physical attack.

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