Surprise twist in probe
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| The sign which the suspect erected. |
Police in Prachuap Khiri Khan have charged a man with the brutal murder of his younger sister, weeks after he appealed publicly for clues leading to her killer.
In a surprise move, Thap Sakae police last week nabbed Kwanchai Khowpreecha, 54, for allegedly killing his sister Boonruen, 49. Her body was found stuffed in a storage compartment under her single-storey cement house in February.
The house itself is set in a coconut grove spread over many tens of rai. The victim, who also raised 10 prime beef cattle, was a millionaire, media outlets said enthusiastically, as they reported news of the arrest.
Boonruen’s body was found wearing work clothes including boots. Her head had been smashed in and a hoe found on top of her body.
Police suspect she was killed behind the house with the hoe and body stuffed in the storage hole. Family members found the body after noticing Boonruen, who lived alone, had not taken the cows out to be fed that morning.
Initially, police pursued a theory that her death was prompted by jealousy. When her body was discovered on Feb 9, her relatives said they suspected a local headmaster was behind the murder.
The headmaster, who was not identified in news reports, was a regular visitor to the house, which is surrounded by a natural fence line of trees. Thought to be heavily indebted, he would ask Boonruen to help pay off his debts, and when she refused, they would argue, her relatives told police.
“If something ever happens to me, that man will be to blame,” she reportedly told her family before she disappeared. Boonruen is the youngest of nine children, several of whom including Mr Kwanchai were involved in the search which turned up her body.
Relatives said they never spoke to her admirer, even though he had been visiting Boonruen for five years. “If he saw us, he wouldn’t get out of the car,” they said.
Mr Kwanchai was among those who suggested the headmaster was to blame. On March 27, as police inquiries continued, Mr Kwanchai had a large sign made appealing for clues leading to the capture of his sister’s killer. He attached it to his pickup and drove it around town.
The sign offered a reward of 300,000 baht for clues leading to the killer’s arrest, and ironically, given subsequent events, urged locals not to come up with scapegoats for the murder, but the real thing.
Police called the headmaster in for questioning which lasted hours. He denied having anything to do with the murder.
The probe also drew on the results of Boonruen’s autopsy. Relatives refused to have the body cremated and sent it for a second autopsy, which found she died of asphyxiation and head trauma.
Police charged Mr Kwanchai with killing with intent and disguising a body. Mr Kwanchai declined to answer questions and said he’d rather wait for his lawyer.
They have not disclosed what evidence points towards Mr Kwanchai as the suspect, though news reports said they now thought an inheritance dispute may play a factor.
Relatives last week were pulling together the 1 million baht demanded by police to secure Mr Kwanchai’s bail. One of his elder sisters said she believed he had been accused unjustly. The case continues.
Nasty ex-con gets comeuppance
An ex-con in Samut Sakhon was stabbed to death when he attacked a man and his family out of jealousy.
Muang police last week arrested Wongnoi Voradit, 38, for killing ex-jailbird Manat Termsaithong, 40, with a 50cm sword. Manat was found with slash wounds all over his body.
Mr Wongnoi, who says he acted in self-defence and surrendered at the scene, said Manat invaded his home after threatening to kill him, his wife and their child.
The suspect has lived with Manat’s ex-girlfriend, unnamed in news reports, since Manat himself was sent to prison for selling drugs 10 years ago. The two had a young child together before Manat was sent away.
Mr Wongnoi said he raised Manat’s child as his own while the child’s father was in jail but Manat showed no gratitude. All he wanted was his old girlfriend back.
When Manat was freed from jail early this year he tried to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend, but she had “moved on”, news reports said, and was no longer interested. The rejection upset Manat, who would call Mr Wongnoi and threaten to kill the entire family, including his child.
“He’s ungrateful. I tried avoiding him but when he turned up to attack us, I had to defend myself,” Mr Wongnoi said.
News reports did not explain what actions the ex-con took before Mr Wongnoi pulled out the sword. Police charged Mr Wongnoi with the killing, though they also want to talk to his ex-girlfriend, who fled the scene before they arrived.
Neighbours said she may be having trouble accepting the fact that Mr Wongnoi has killed Manat, despite her ex-boyfriend’s nasty ways.
Wrenching decision
A Phuket man lay dead for three days after a drinking friend hit him over the head with a wrench in an argument.
Thalang police arrested Thaksin “Tong” Pholawong, 49, for killing his mate, identified simply as Kuan, in a fruit plantation close to Bang Niao dam in Si Sunthon sub-district.
A wrench was found alongside his body, discovered by locals some three days after Kuan died on April 20. The two had been drinking at a plantation hut when Kuan criticised his mate and questioned whether he was man enough to respond.
“You can’t look after yourself; even your own wife abandoned you. Even if you’re like the dirt on my feet, I can do whatever I like with you,” he said provocatively. The victim threw the wrench to the ground and said: “With the courage of a woman, you wouldn’t dare.”
Unfortunately for him, Mr Tong was up to the dare. He grabbed the wrench and smashed it into his friend’s face two or three times until Kuan lay still.
Mr Tong fled the scene, and handed himself in to police last week after the body was found.
He admitted striking his mate, though said he did not realise he was dead. After the attack he slept the night at a pavilion alongside the dam. Police charged him with murder.
In a surprise move, Thap Sakae police last week nabbed Kwanchai Khowpreecha, 54, for allegedly killing his sister Boonruen, 49. Her body was found stuffed in a storage compartment under her single-storey cement house in February.
The house itself is set in a coconut grove spread over many tens of rai. The victim, who also raised 10 prime beef cattle, was a millionaire, media outlets said enthusiastically, as they reported news of the arrest.
Boonruen’s body was found wearing work clothes including boots. Her head had been smashed in and a hoe found on top of her body.
 |
| Boonruen |
Police suspect she was killed behind the house with the hoe and body stuffed in the storage hole. Family members found the body after noticing Boonruen, who lived alone, had not taken the cows out to be fed that morning.
Initially, police pursued a theory that her death was prompted by jealousy. When her body was discovered on Feb 9, her relatives said they suspected a local headmaster was behind the murder.
The headmaster, who was not identified in news reports, was a regular visitor to the house, which is surrounded by a natural fence line of trees. Thought to be heavily indebted, he would ask Boonruen to help pay off his debts, and when she refused, they would argue, her relatives told police.
“If something ever happens to me, that man will be to blame,” she reportedly told her family before she disappeared. Boonruen is the youngest of nine children, several of whom including Mr Kwanchai were involved in the search which turned up her body.
Relatives said they never spoke to her admirer, even though he had been visiting Boonruen for five years. “If he saw us, he wouldn’t get out of the car,” they said.
Mr Kwanchai was among those who suggested the headmaster was to blame. On March 27, as police inquiries continued, Mr Kwanchai had a large sign made appealing for clues leading to the capture of his sister’s killer. He attached it to his pickup and drove it around town.
The sign offered a reward of 300,000 baht for clues leading to the killer’s arrest, and ironically, given subsequent events, urged locals not to come up with scapegoats for the murder, but the real thing.
Police called the headmaster in for questioning which lasted hours. He denied having anything to do with the murder.
The probe also drew on the results of Boonruen’s autopsy. Relatives refused to have the body cremated and sent it for a second autopsy, which found she died of asphyxiation and head trauma.
Police charged Mr Kwanchai with killing with intent and disguising a body. Mr Kwanchai declined to answer questions and said he’d rather wait for his lawyer.
They have not disclosed what evidence points towards Mr Kwanchai as the suspect, though news reports said they now thought an inheritance dispute may play a factor.
Relatives last week were pulling together the 1 million baht demanded by police to secure Mr Kwanchai’s bail. One of his elder sisters said she believed he had been accused unjustly. The case continues.
Nasty ex-con gets comeuppance
 |
| The home where the ex-con was killed. |
Muang police last week arrested Wongnoi Voradit, 38, for killing ex-jailbird Manat Termsaithong, 40, with a 50cm sword. Manat was found with slash wounds all over his body.
Mr Wongnoi, who says he acted in self-defence and surrendered at the scene, said Manat invaded his home after threatening to kill him, his wife and their child.
The suspect has lived with Manat’s ex-girlfriend, unnamed in news reports, since Manat himself was sent to prison for selling drugs 10 years ago. The two had a young child together before Manat was sent away.
Mr Wongnoi said he raised Manat’s child as his own while the child’s father was in jail but Manat showed no gratitude. All he wanted was his old girlfriend back.
When Manat was freed from jail early this year he tried to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend, but she had “moved on”, news reports said, and was no longer interested. The rejection upset Manat, who would call Mr Wongnoi and threaten to kill the entire family, including his child.
“He’s ungrateful. I tried avoiding him but when he turned up to attack us, I had to defend myself,” Mr Wongnoi said.
News reports did not explain what actions the ex-con took before Mr Wongnoi pulled out the sword. Police charged Mr Wongnoi with the killing, though they also want to talk to his ex-girlfriend, who fled the scene before they arrived.
Neighbours said she may be having trouble accepting the fact that Mr Wongnoi has killed Manat, despite her ex-boyfriend’s nasty ways.
Wrenching decision
 |
| The hut where the man’s body was found. |
Thalang police arrested Thaksin “Tong” Pholawong, 49, for killing his mate, identified simply as Kuan, in a fruit plantation close to Bang Niao dam in Si Sunthon sub-district.
A wrench was found alongside his body, discovered by locals some three days after Kuan died on April 20. The two had been drinking at a plantation hut when Kuan criticised his mate and questioned whether he was man enough to respond.
“You can’t look after yourself; even your own wife abandoned you. Even if you’re like the dirt on my feet, I can do whatever I like with you,” he said provocatively. The victim threw the wrench to the ground and said: “With the courage of a woman, you wouldn’t dare.”
Unfortunately for him, Mr Tong was up to the dare. He grabbed the wrench and smashed it into his friend’s face two or three times until Kuan lay still.
Mr Tong fled the scene, and handed himself in to police last week after the body was found.
He admitted striking his mate, though said he did not realise he was dead. After the attack he slept the night at a pavilion alongside the dam. Police charged him with murder.
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