KALASIN – The Kalasin Provincial Court on Thursday morning sentenced to death a former village chief for the rape and fatal assault of an 18-year-old student and ordered he pay more than 2 million baht compensation to her family.
The court found Krittidech Rawengwan, 35, formerly village chief of Ban Si Than in Kamalasai district, guilty of rape and physical assault causing the death of Ruadeewan Polprasit on Dec 23, 2015.
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Ruadeewan was travelling home from school when her attacker kicked and knocked over her motorbike, then dragged her into a rice field on the side of the Ban Si Than-Ban Non Muang road. She fought back and was able to fend off his attempts to rape her.
However, she was severely beaten during the attack and died from her injuries. A post mortem showed that her liver had been ruptured.
Krittidech was arrested on April 4, 2016 and the case was filed with the court on June 4, 2016. He was charged with rape and physical assault causing death.
Krittidech denied any wrongdoing through the trial. The court heard testimony from 40 prosecution witnesses in November last year and questioned 11 defence witnesses in December.
The court found him guilty as charged and handed down the death sentence. He was ordered to pay 2.39 million baht to the victim’s family.
The courtroom was packed with Ruadeewan's relatives and neighbours.