New evidence reveals mysterious shot that killed a contractor might be shot by a sold

Police investigating the death of a contractor, Sornchai Sithiitrakthamrongat, at a road checkpoint in Mae Suai district of Chiang Rai on the night of January 2, now suspected the victim might be shot by a soldier.


This was based on the result of the forensic autopsy which found a .223 bullet on his head.


Normally the .223 cartridge is used for assault rifle such as M16 carried by soldiers.


On the night of the shooting, investigation showed two soldiers also joined volunteers and village headmen checking vehicles passing the checkpoint.


Earlier police arrested Wutthichai Injai, the assistant village head of Ban Pa Hiang, after he was identified as a person who fired at the vehicle and killed the driver when he refused to stop for search.


But the assistant denied shooting at the vehicle, reasoning that he just fired into the air.


He was released on bail by Chiang Rai provincial court on Jan 9.


The victim’s family and friends and residents were unsatisfied with the investigation and arrest of only one person, suspecting more people might be involved in the shooting.


They called for justice from the deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police Pol Gen Srivara Rangsibhramanakul who went to supervise the shooting by himself.


Further investigation after the autopsy result of the shot wound on his head showed it was from a .223 bullet, not a 9mm bullet fired from the handgun of the assistant, found two soldiers were at the checkpoint and they carried M16 assault rifles.


The finding prompted the police now to believe one of them fired the fatal shot that killed the contractor.


There was a press report that the two soldiers have reported to the Third Army commander but it’s spokesman Col Krit Khantasa denied such report.


Earlier the police inquiry officers in charge of the case agreed to slap an additional charge against Wutthichai because the dead victim’s girifriend, Ms Sirirat Yaepieng, was travelling in the same car but escaped the bullets.

New evidence reveals mysterious shot that killed a contractor might be shot by a soldier - Thai PBS English News

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Originally Posted by misskit

There was a press report that the two soldiers have reported to the Third Army commander but it’s spokesman Col Krit Khantasa denied such report.

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:rofl:
In an effort to deny any soldier's complicity in the murder, he denies the two suspects have reported for questioning (because that would imply just cause).
Or is he simply saying they have not reported in for questioning?
I suspect the former.

Even the rural cops must have realised the damage was far more than from a 9mm handgun, take a high velocity .223 to the back of the head and splat....... Thais can be quite brutal and careless of human life, for Buddhists.

Army Private Surrenders to Police Over Mae Suai Checkpoint Killing

CHIANG RAI – Pol Lt Gen Poonsap Sapprasert, the regional chief has confirmed the surrender of a 22-year-old soldier, An army private has turned himself in to police to face charges in the shooting death of a driver at a checkpoint in Chiang Ra in the shooting death at a checkpoint in Mae Suai, Chiang Rai.


Pvt Wanchai Champa was accompanied by his boss, Col Worathep Bunya, who commands the 17th Infantry Regiment in Phayao, to report to Provincial Police Region 5 in Chiang Mai before he was handed over to Mae Suai police.

Pvt Wanchai faces four charges, including murdering Sornchai Sathitrakdamrong, 35, on the night of Jan 2 in Mae Suai district of Chiang Rai, after he failed to stop a car at a makeshift checkpoint at Mae Suai.

MORE. Army Private Surrenders to Police Over Mae Suai Checkpoint Killing | Chiang Rai Times English Language Newspaper

Fcuking bollix. The incident happened 11 days ago and the soldier has only just 'turned himself in'. Where the fooks he been during that time, holiday?

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Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Fcuking bollix. The incident happened 11 days ago and the soldier has only just 'turned himself in'. Where the fooks he been during that time, holiday?

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Prolly getting a massage.

Doubts over the identity of killing suspect

CHIANG RAI – The case over the killing of a 34 year-old man at a Chiang Rai checkpoint has taken yet another twist as prominent lawyer Songkran Achariyasap has brought into question whether the soldier identified as the prime suspect in a recent fatal shooting is the real culprit or yet another scapegoat.


Prominent Lawyer Songkran Achariyasap, who also heads a group protecting the nations religion and monarchy – said photos of officials at the checkpoint did not reflect army private Wichai holding the type of gun used in the death of Sornchai Sathitrakdamrong on the night of January 2.


Saying “His name nor signature don’t even appear on the list of persons signing p to man the checkpoint on the night of the shooting.

MORE Doubts over the identity of killing suspect

If only soldiers carried the M16 and this guy was killed by one then there a very high possibility that one of the two soldiers fired the fatal shot. The current suspect is shown not to be carrying an M16 in photographs, allegedly. Logically then, the other soldier is the shooter.
I assume that when a when a soldier collects his weapon from the armoury he has to sign for it? Plus he will have been allocated a certain amount of bullets. Quite obviously there's a cover up. But why? The deceased crashed a road block and endangered the lives of others. Therefore, whoever fired the gun was legally in the right use force.

^ It appears the latest “suspect” wasn’t even there!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by misskit

photos of officials at the checkpoint did not reflect army private Wichai holding the type of gun used in the death of Sornchai Sathitrakdamrong on the night of January 2.

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Photo's, allegedly, show him as being there but not with the type of gun used to kill the contractor. So even the lawyer admits the suspect was there.

A ghost, or a Laos drug gang that was in the vicinity will be found to have done it.

“His name nor signature don’t even appear on the list of persons signing p to man the checkpoint on the night of the shooting.

^ Ghost.