A murder charge against a 59-year old Western Australian man in Thailand has been dropped after security footage backed his claim he was acting in self defence when a security guard was killed in a fight outside a nightclub.
Mark Pendlebury, a long time resident of Phuket, had been charged with murder of a 26-year-old Thai security guard, who was stabbed in a scuffle outside the nightclub in the early hours of March 11.
The guard, Sanya Kluewaengman, and Pendlebury, were admitted to hospital but Sanya later died from his injuries.
Pendlebury had reportedly been returning home when he witnessed a melee outside the Tai Pan nightclub.
But when Pendlebury began filming the altercation on his mobile phone, Sanya confronted him, telling him to stop and a fight ensured, with several other men attacking the Australian.
Thai Police say CCTV footage supports the Australian's claims he pulled a short knife because he feared his life was in danger.
Two other passersby also came to his aid.
On Wednesday, Thai police in Phuket confirmed they were dropping charges after a review of the security camera footage of the incident.
Sanya's family agreed not to pursue the case after Pendlebury agreed to pay the next of kin 1.2 million baht ($A48,000) in compensation. Pendlebury had already paid 100,000 baht ($A4,000) to cover Sanya's cremations expenses.
Police fined Pendlebury 500 baht ($A20) for carrying a knife in a public place.
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