Suspect dies in police cell toilet

SAMUT PRAKAN KILLINGS

SAMUT PRAKAN : A suspect in the killing of a couple and the kidnapping of their young daughter in Samut Prakan province late last month was found dead in his cell early yesterday morning.

Murder suspect ManaSinsiri whowas founddeadin a water container. SURAPOL PROMSAKANA SAKOLNAKORN

Mana Sinsiri, 45, was found dead in the toilet of his cell at the Bang Bo police station in Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan, at 5.20am yesterday.

Police said his body was inside a water container which was about 80cm high and about 50cm in diameter.

They found bruises on both of his elbows and assumed he had squeezed himself into the water container. There were no other wounds on his body. A forensic doctor put the cause of death as drowning.

The autopsy was performed by Walailak Tantiphat, a doctor at Bang Bo Hospital.

Pol Sgt Chainarong Phiban, who was on duty at the time, said he was ordered to keep a check on Mana every hour as the station chief was concerned the suspect appeared tense and was afraid he would commit suicide.

He said when he checked Mana at 4.30am, the man was sitting up but apparently asleep. Mana was not there during the next check at 5.20am and was found dead in the toilet inside his cell.

Mana was arrested in Bang Saen, Chon Buri on Tuesday in connection with the killing of Atthaporn Arthit, a 54-year-old landfill contractor, and his 36-year-old mistress Nichapat Kanthamoon in their house in the Sapmankhong housing estate in Bang Bo on Dec 29.

Police claimed he confessed to murdering and robbing the couple and making off with valuables and their two-year-old daughter in their pick-up truck.

The girl was later found in Chachoengsao and handed over to welfare officials.

Ratchawan Kerdpaibul, the suspect's wife, said Mana had told her on Tuesday he would commit suicide to pay for his crime. She did not take the threat seriously.