Prosecutors have set up a working group to decide whether to indict two men charged with stabbing a man to death and stealing his iPhone on Jan 4 in Bangkok.
Jetsada Arunchaiphirom, a senior prosecutor for criminal litigation, said Thursday police have wrapped up their case against Kittikorn Wikaha, 26, of Sa Kaeo and his alleged accomplice Supatchai Charnsri, 25 of Uthai Thani.
The police presented the investigation report recommending the men be indicted on charges of theft subsequently causing death, carrying a weapon in a public place, and murder to conceal a crime.
The men are accused of killing Wasin Luangjaem, a former worker at Suvarnabhumi airport, on the night of Jan 4 in Lat Phrao district.
Security camera footage shows Wasin, 26, being attacked by two men who approached him on a motorcycle. Wasin fought back.
One of the men, identified as Kittikorn, is seen stabbing Wasin in the neck. Wasin fell to the ground. The attackers stole only the victim's iPhone 7, leaving behind his wallet.
Kittikorn was arrested at the Ua-Arthorn housing estate in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi on Jan 5. Mr Supatchai was caught at a friend's house in Nonthaburi.
Mr Jetsada said Khok Khram police, led by acting superintendent Pol Col Sarawut Jindakham overseeing the case, had submitted the report to prosecutors for review.
Investigators say they have solid evidence proving Kittikorn and Mr Supatchai killed and robbed Wasin, he said. This included the security camera footage showing Wasin being killed.
Mr Jetsada said a working panel will review the evidence which police had provided and will decide whether to indict the men by Jan 18 when the detention period for the suspects expires.
If the review cannot be concluded by the deadline, the police will be required to seek court approval to detain the suspects further.
A criminal suspect can be held in custody for up to seven, 12-day periods, or 84 days in total.
Mr Jetsada said Kittikorn and Mr Supatchai are liable for the strongest possible punishment if convicted, the death penalty.
The sentence might be commuted to a life sentence if they confess.
Prosecutors will take into consideration other crimes which the suspects allegedly committed just before and soon after the Jan 4 murder.
The two suspects allegedly committed four crimes on the night of Jan 4 and during the early hours of Jan 5.
On Jan 4, they allegedly tried and failed to snatch a bag from a woman in soi Sukhonthasawat 27.
Eight minutes later, they allegedly murdered Wasin and took his iPhone.
A few hours later they allegedly stole an iPhone from a woman on soi Sukhonthasawat 9.
They then robbed another woman and made off with her mobile phone and 5,000 baht from outside Synphaet Hospital in Kannayao district of Bangkok.