The Bangkok South Criminal Court yesterday ruled that another two United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters killed during the military crackdown in April 2010 were shot by soldiers.
The two red shirts were Charoon Chaimaen, 46, and Sayam Watanukul, 52.
Prosecutors had asked the court to verify the identities of the men, to establish the causes of their death and who was responsible.
Both were shot in front of Satree Withaya School on Din So Road during the crackdown on April 10, 2010.
Based on an examination of evidence and testimony of witnesses, the court ruled that Charoon died at Central General Hospital on April 10, 2010 at 10pm. He had been hit in the chest by several high-velocity bullets.
Sayam died while being taken to hospital.
He was hit in the back and died from internal bleeding.
The bullets were fired by soldiers retreating from a defensive line in front of Satree Withaya School to a soi next to Wat Bovornnives near the Wan Chart Bridge intersection, the court said. It was not known who fired the shots.
The men's relatives said they accepted the court's ruling but wanted those who fired the fatal shots to take responsibility for the deaths.
The ruling was the latest in a series of cases in which the court has ruled that civilians were killed by soldiers during the April-May 2010 political violence.
In August, the Bangkok South Criminal Court ruled that soldiers killed six civilians in Wat Pathum Wanaram during the crackdown against red-shirt protesters. In May, the same court ruled that Italian journalist Fabio Polenghi was killed by a bullet fired by security forces during the May 19, 2010 red-shirt dispersal.
The rulings prompted army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha to speak out in defence of soldiers.
The rulings were the findings of an inquest into these deaths and the public should wait for a final ruling by the court, he said.