Court lays no blame for shot that killed student

Court lays no blame for shot that killed student

Family members, friends and Democrat Party members perform bathing rites for protester Wasu Suchantabut at Wat Phra Si Mahathat. He was shot dead during Dec 26 clashes between police and protesters in Din Daeng.  (Bangkok Post file photo)
Family members, friends and Democrat Party members perform bathing rites for protester Wasu Suchantabut at Wat Phra Si Mahathat. He was shot dead during Dec 26 clashes between police and protesters in Din Daeng. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The Criminal Court on Thursday ruled that a protester of the Network of Students and People for the Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) was killed by a bullet in front of the Thailand-Japan sports stadium at Din Daeng on Dec 26, 2013 but it could not determine who fired the shot.

The prosecution had asked the court to investigate and confirm the identity of Wasu Suchanthabut, a student who took part in the NSPRT rally intended to block the registration of party-list candidates for the Feb 2, 2014 elections.

The court heard that on that day 16 companies of police were deployed at the sports stadium to maintain law and order.

On the morning of Dec 26, NSPRT protesters began to rally at the stadium and intermittently clashed with the police.

Witnesses told the court they saw Wasu among the protesters in front of the Social Security Office in the afternoon and heard two gunshots from the direction of Gate No 6 of the stadium.  Wasu was hit and wounded.

 He was admitted to Phra Mongkutklao Hospital, where he died on Dec 27 at 3.35am.  The doctors said he was hit below the left ribcage. The bullet went through his body, damaging organs in the abdomen and causing a fatal wound.

The court ruled that Wasu died after being hit by a bullet, but it could not determine who fired the shot.

Wasu's mother, Thip-apa Suchanthabut, said she accepted the inquest's finding.  She would continue to offer a one million baht reward for anyone providing information that leads to the arrest of the shooter.


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