A THAI man has been charged with murder after his son-in-law from Essex was stabbed to death, police have revealed.Mark Jones, 42, from Colchester, was stabbed twice in the back on Wednesday night, Thai police said.

A THAI man has been charged with murder after his son-in-law from Essex was stabbed to death, police have revealed.

Mark Jones, 42, from Colchester, was stabbed twice in the back on Wednesday night, Thai police said.

Police Major Jaran Pankratok said Mr Jones had been with his Thai wife Saichai Chantee for about two years and the couple had a one-year-old son.

He would not give details of the case, saying only that it was a "family matter" that involved "marital problems".

The stabbing happened at Son Chantee's home in Pak Chong district, Nakorn Ratchasima province, 75 miles north east of Bangkok, he said.

Another police officer said that Mr Jones's father-in-law has been charged with premeditated murder and released on bail.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said that Mr Jones was originally from Colchester but had been living in Thailand for around two years.

She said his next of kin had been informed and a family liaison officer had been appointed.

She said it was standard practice that police had a maximum of 84 days to submit papers to the public prosecutor.

Ian Proud, a spokesman for the British Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, said: "Obviously the matter is now under investigation but we are aware of the situation.

"I know consular staff have been working with the Foreign Office in London since receiving notification of the matter.

"As this is still the subject of an investigation it would be inappropriate to say more.”

Last night a spokeswoman for Essex Police said she was unable to reveal any further details at this time but confirmed a family liaison officer was supporting Mr Jones' grieving family who still lived in the Colchester area.