The family of an American man who was the victim of a brutal sword attack said they will likely face serious financial problems in the wake of his death.
Troy Lee Pilkington was slashed to death with a sword by taxi driver Cherdchai Utamacha, 32, on July 6th, police said. Cherdchaihas has since confessed to the crime.
Pilkington’s wife and her son, as well as her two sisters and the three children of one sister, all lived together in a Bangkok home paid for by the Thailand arm of US machinery company Caterpillar Inc, where the victim worked. Pilkington also sent money every month to his wife’s parents, and paid their medical bills, the victim’s sister Tracy Pilkington-Shaffer told The Bangkok Post.
“This taxi driver … not only killed my brother, but he also totally destroyed a Thai family,” she said.
Cherdchai told police that Pilkington became enraged when the cab hit traffic, and accused him of rigging the taxi’s meter. The victim then began shouting at him before getting out of the cab without paying the 51-baht fare and throwing a cup of coffee at him, Cherdchai told investigators.
Both the victim’s wife and sister disputed Cherdchai’s story, however, saying that the man portayed by the driver did not reflect Pilkington’s true nature.
