A 14-year-old boy who died during the 2010 political violence was killed by a military gunshot, the Criminal Court ruled yesterday.
Soldiers walk past the body of a protester killed during the 2010 in street violence. (AFP photo)
Khunakorn Srisuwan, also known as Isa (Jesus), was shot in the back on Mor Leng Road in front of the OA movie theatre about 20 metres off Ratchaprarop Road early on May 15, 2010.
The killing took place while Bangkok was under a state of emergency declared by then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government amid the anti-government red-shirt protests.
The boy had attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and was staying at an orphanage of the International Islamic Relief Organisation in Suan Luang district, the court said.
Reporter Khomsanti Thongmak testified he saw the boy playing near a military bunker at the Ratchaprarop station of the Airport Rail Link near the theatre about 11pm on May 14, 2010.
About 150 soldiers from the 31st Artillery Battalion and the 3rd Infantry Battalion had restricted access to the area and the vicinity around Ratchaprarop Road. Their command unit was at the Airport Rail Link station.
About 12am on May 15, 2010, a van driven by Samon Maithong headed toward the bunker.
The driver defied an order announced through a loudspeaker to stop or be shot at. Soldiers then opened fire on the van, hitting Samon in his torso and stomach.
Khunakorn was shot in the back amid the gunfire.
A fragment of a rifle bullet was found in his wound. Soldiers who were deployed in the area used M16 assault rifles, the court said, ruling that the stray bullet came from a soldier's rifle.
Khunakorn is the fourth person whose death was ruled by courts to be a result of the government's crackdown.
Also shot at the time was taxi driver Phan Khamkong, who was standing opposite the movie theatre.
Phan died later in hospital.
The court also ruled that security forces cracking down on protesters were at fault for the deaths of Phan; Channarong Polsrila, who was shot dead on Rang Nam Road at night on May 15, 2010; and taxi driver Chartchai Chalao, who was shot in the head on Rama IV Road on the night of May 13, 2010.