Accused in bar-girl killing changes story

Accused in bar-girl killing changes story

Khon Kaen: The prime suspect in the grisly murder of a karaoke bar worker has backtracked and now denies killing the young woman, despite earlier confessing to police.

Preeyanuch "Preaw" Nonwangchai and her friends are suspects in the murder of Warisara Klinjui, 22, who was found dismembered in a shallow grave in Khon Kaen on May 26 last year.

"We are not worried despite the suspects denying the premeditated murder charge," Nopphadon Sidathan, a lawyer of the family of Warisara.

Ms Preeyanuch, 25, had earlier admitted to the wrongdoings. During her re-enactment of the crime, she apologised to Warisara's relatives, saying she had no intention to kill the victim.

However, Ms Preeyanuch backtracked when the Khon Kaen Provincial Court started hearing the case on Tuesday.

The trial, in which witnesses and suspects gave testimony, continued for the second day yesterday.

Police charged Ms Preeyanuch, along with Kawita Rachada, 26, Apiwan Sattayabundit, 29, and Wasin Namprom, 22, with premeditated murder and disposal of a body, and accused the other defendant, Jidarat Promkhun, 22, of robbery.

Ms Kawita, Ms Apiwan and Mr Wasin told the court on Tuesday they only helped Ms Preeyanuch cut up the body before burying it at a grave in Khon Kaen's Khao Suan Kwang district.

When officers found the dismembered body they launched a hunt for the five suspects.

During the trial, only Ms Jidarat confessed to wrongdoing while Ms Preeyanuch claimed she "accidentally covered Warisara's nose with her hand" as she initially just wanted to gag the victim, Mr Nopphadon said.

But according to some defendants' testimonies, the suspects assaulted Warisara before Ms Preeyanuch used a black plastic bag she bought from a convenience store to strangle the victim to death in a car, he said.

"This showed it's not an accident. The murder was well planned," Mr Nopphadon said.

According to a police investigation, Ms Preeyanuch wanted to "give Warisara a lesson" after the victim unveiled information to police which led to the arrest of the suspect's husband on drug offences.

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