A British businessman has allegedly been stabbed to death by his much younger wife inside their luxury villa in Thailand.

The 33-year-old man was found dead with multiple stab wounds in the shower of the high-end property in the Bang Lamung district of Pattaya. Thai police believe he showed signs of a violent struggle before his death.

According to reports, officers discovered a large 20-inch zombie knife in the sink, covered in blood. The weapon had reportedly been wiped clean. Blood was found on furniture, tiles, cabinets, and several towels inside the villa, indicating an attempt to clean up the crime scene.

The man’s 20-year-old wife was arrested at the scene. She was found sobbing when a friend of the victim arrived after failing to contact him by phone. Police noted cuts on her fingers and are reviewing CCTV footage from the property.

The couple had only moved into the villa two weeks earlier. Neighbours reported that they regularly smoked cannabis. Authorities are conducting tests to determine whether drugs played a role in the incident.

Police Colonel Nattapon Phongsuksakul stated that the wife denied committing the murder, but investigators find her claim difficult to believe due to a stab wound on the victim’s back. Thai police have classified the case as murder, not self-defence.

The body was discovered on Thursday morning, with initial findings suggesting the killing occurred at least six hours earlier.

The woman remains in custody as investigations continue. The UK Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.