Phuket – The man suspected of the cold-blooded shooting of a ladyboy in Phuket is in police custody.

Phichai Lakkr, 22, was detained by police early on Wednesday morning at a short-time hotel near Saphan Hin, in Phuket,  for illegal possession of a firearm.

Subsequent investigation linked the gun to the the killing of 35-year-old ladyboy Wanchai Tongwijit on Saturday, who was was found dead in a doorway with a single bullet wound to the head.

A key lead in the investigation came from staff at a cell phone shop who identified Phichai as the man who had brought in the deceased’s mobile phone for repairs.

On the day of the murder Wanchai asked Phichai for sexual services, police said, but rather than satisfy his client’s desires, Mr Phichai used the opportunity to rob Wanchai of his possessions and shoot him though the skull with a .38 caliber pistol.