June 2014, international manhunt ends: Expat shooter target Dennis Mark Knudsen apprehended for murder.
What happened before.
Jan 2013, Australian tattoo parlor owner's revenge backfires: German tourists mistakenly shot in Patong.
A heated dispute between an Australian tattoo parlor owner, John Cohen, and a Danish man over an unpaid debt took a violent turn. In a fit of anger, Cohen fired a shot at the Danish man, but his aim went astray, causing harm to two innocent German tourists passing by on Soi Sansabai in Patong.
Joseph Woerner and Johann Baschegger, the unfortunate victims, suffered injuries, with one sustaining a gunshot wound to the arm and the other to the shoulder. They were promptly rushed to Patong Hospital for necessary medical attention.
Shortly thereafter, local authorities apprehended John Cohen, the suspected shooter, and confiscated a Ruger .45 semiautomatic pistol. Another Australian named Adam Lewis was also arrested, although the charges against him remain unclear at this time.
According to statements given to the police, the two Australians claimed that the Danish debtor owed them a substantial sum of money amounting to 380,000 baht. With no repayment made and accumulated interest, the debt had reached a staggering one million baht.
As of now, the elusive Danish debtor remains at large, believed to be in hiding. Meanwhile, both Australians are in custody and undergoing further interrogation. Cohen, initially charged with attempted murder and carrying a firearm in a public place, faces serious legal consequences.
In addition to owning the tattoo parlor, John Cohen is reportedly associated with Johnny's Bar in Patong and owns condominiums south of the area.
Feb 2013, court rejects bail for Australians involved in tourist shooting.
Phuket Court made the decision to deny bail to the two Australian suspects involved in the shooting incident that injured two German tourists. John Edward Cohen, believed to be from Sydney, fired multiple shots on a crowded street in Soi Sansabai in an attempt to target a Danish individual who owed money to the Australians. Regrettably, the bullets missed their intended target and struck the innocent German tourists instead.
Cohen has been charged with attempted murder and possessing a firearm in a public place. His accomplice, Adam Lewis Shea, hailing from Launceston in Tasmania, faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder.
While the motive for the violence is said to be related to an unpaid debt, there are increasing speculations that both individuals are associated with an Australian outlaw biker gang, potentially the Rebels. The Rebels, known as Australia's largest gang with approximately 2,000 members, have drawn attention to the case. Acting Commissioner Nick Kaldas of the New South Wales Police expressed a willingness to assist Thai authorities, stating concerns about the expanding influence of biker groups, whether within Australia or abroad.
Thai police have dismissed reports of Cohen's affiliation with the Rebels as mere rumors. However, sources within Phuket's legitimate biker community have confirmed sighting him during rides while wearing attire associated with the Rebels, such as a leather jacket bearing their insignia.
Members of the local biker community have expressed surprise at Cohen's involvement in the shooting, describing him as a well behaved individual with no prior trouble. They also revealed that Thai police have been vigilant regarding the presence of Hell's Angels and Bandidos gangs in Phuket, both notorious for their violent activities. Legitimate bikers have been asked to keep a watchful eye on these groups.
A few years ago, concerns arose that clashes between these two gangs during the annual Bike Week could lead to violence. However, authorities managed to prevent any incidents through discreet communication with gang members. The bikers were reminded of the vast difference in numbers between them and law enforcement, emphasizing the consequences they would face if they disrupted Bike Week.
June 2014, Patong shooting survivor arrested in Denmark, charged with murder of girlfriend
Dennis Mark Knudsen, the Danish man who narrowly escaped a shootout orchestrated by two Australians in Patong last year, has now found himself on the other side of the law. He was recently apprehended in Denmark and is currently facing charges for the tragic murder of his girlfriend.
Startling developments have unfolded as Dennis Mark Knudsen, the expatriate who previously found himself targeted in a shooting incident in Phuket, has now been apprehended and charged with the murder of his 33-year-old girlfriend. According to reports from Ekstra Bladet newspaper, Knudsen allegedly stabbed her to death in the confines of their apartment's bedroom. Tragically, the woman's two young children were present during the harrowing incident.
Recalling the events from January 22, 2013, it was during that time that Knudsen, then a subject of interest for Australian bikers John Cohen and Mark Shea, narrowly escaped an attempt on his life. The Australians, seeking retribution, spotted Knudsen riding on the back of a motorbike taxi along Patong's Soi Sansabai. However, their ill fated endeavor resulted in mistakenly shooting two innocent German tourists, who suffered injuries to their arm and shoulder and required hospitalization.
Following their subsequent arrest, Cohen and Shea claimed that Knudsen owed them a staggering one million baht, with 380,000 baht for a motorcycle and the remaining amount as accumulated interest. They alleged that Knudsen had failed to make any payment, and a court had earlier validated their entitlement to the sum.
The recent arrest of Knudsen for the alleged murder of his girlfriend adds another shocking layer to this already tumultuous series of events. The investigation into the case will undoubtedly shed light on the intricacies of this tragic affair.