Uni student murdered over 'dirty looks'

Uni student murdered over 'dirty looks'

In handcuffs: Suspected accomplice Veera Sripong, 22, leads police through a re-enactment of the attack that killed a student.
In handcuffs: Suspected accomplice Veera Sripong, 22, leads police through a re-enactment of the attack that killed a student.

Police say they are closing in on a suspect who allegedly killed a man after a fight broke out over nasty facial expressions.

A breakthrough in the case came yesterday when police arrested Veera Sripong, 22, at his Sai Mai home for his alleged involvement in the May 30 fight in Pathum Thani.

Arthit Saisalang, a second-year student in the communication arts faculty and a striker on the university football team, was shot and killed, and Suwin Prathumet, 20, was stabbed in the incident.

While denying taking part in the assault, Mr Veera admitted he was one of three men on motorcycles who followed the victims from a restaurant to the crime scene near Rangsit University's Pathum Thani campus.

According to a preliminary police investigation, the victims and two friends were travelling by motorcycle to their dormitory after leaving the restaurant at the entrance to Muang Ek housing estate at about 4am.

A member of the group pursuing the students fired a shot that hit Arthit, who was driving at the time. One of Arthit’s friends took control of the bike and continued riding, but the assailants gave chase.

Mr Suwin was meanwhile held at gunpoint by the attackers, who intercepted his bike. He was stabbed by two of the assailants before they fled.

Arthit was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Earlier that night, Mr Veera said he and his friends had been upset by a group of teenagers at the restaurant who were making offensive facial expressions at them. However, he said the two parties did not argue or fight.

“I went with the other two but I didn’t shoot anyone. I tried to tell them we were following the wrong group but no one listened to me,” he said.

Mr Veera accused Poonsak Saokaew of shooting Arthit and said Rachane Nisap stabbed Mr Suwin.

He told police he does not know where the pair are, but claimed they could be hiding in the provinces.

He added he did not know Arthit had been killed until he saw it on the news.

Mr Veera was taken to the scene for a crime re-enactment yesterday, escorted by 50 police officers. A Honda motorcycle was seized as evidence.

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