Bangkok stabbing victim was couple's only son

The parents of a New Zealand man stabbed dead in his Bangkok apartment have lost their only son.

Leonard Timothy Healey, 32, died after he was attacked in his home in the Thai capital on Sunday morning.

Captain Thanaphat Sookmee of the Bangkok police said the English-language teacher was attacked by Winai Saisudjai, 29, a friend of Mr Healey's 19-year-old girlfriend, Jitladda Dejyosdee.

The police officer said all three had been drinking when Mr Healey became angry after Saisudjai asked to sleep with his girlfriend.

Saisudjai tried to drag Ms Dejyosdee into a lift and Mr Healey was stabbed when he intervened.

His father, Patrick Healey, said his son was born in Southland and had his primary school education there before the family moved to South Canterbury.

The Healeys also have a daughter.

"There's nothing much I can say. We've had a grave loss," Mr Healey said.

The family were waiting to hear from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade over arrangements for returning the body.

"We hope to bring his body home but we just don't know what is going to happen at this stage."

A Thai police transcript of Ms Dejyosdee's account of the incident revealed that Mr Healey was stabbed as he tried to protect her.

"Leonard told Aek [Saisudjai] to leave," Ms Dejyosdee said.

"Aek was very upset.

"He grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the room. Aek tried to call the lift then Leonard came to help.

"They had a fight and Aek used his knife to stab Leonard before running out of the fire exit."

Ms Dejyosdee told police she carried her injured boyfriend back into the apartment after Saisudjai fled the scene.

Mr Healey died of his injuries in hospital.

A ministry spokesman said the embassy in Bangkok was liaising with Thai police over the death but no arrests had been made.

He said the ministry would contact the family about returning the body of Mr Healey home to New Zealand.

- NZPA