The Appeal Court on Tuesday sentenced two men to life in prison, reducing the Criminal Court's death penalty, for killing a man to steal his 26,000-baht iPhone in Lat Phrao district, Bangkok, early last year.
Kittikorn Wikaha, 27, of Sa Kaeo province, and Supatchai Charnsri, 26, of Uthai Thani province, were convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Wasin Luengjaem, 26, and theft of his iPhone 6 on Sukhonthasawat Road on the night of Jan 4 last year.
The Appeal Court ruled that the two men had consistently confessed during police interrogation and their court trial, and also admitted to their crime when speaking to news reporters. That showed their repentance, which justified the commuted sentences.
Niraporn Luengjaem, the victim's mother, said she had recovered from the loss and held no more grudges. She asked the authorities to take good care of the two inmates so they could improve themselves and not repeat their crime. She would not appeal the sentences to the Supreme Court.
In May last year the Criminal Court handed them both the death sentence, reasoning they had no option but to confess because a surveillance camera had caught them in the act.
The court also said it was unlikely the two men would reform their behaviour, because they had committed numerous crimes in the past.
The men were charged with theft causing death, carrying a weapon in a public place, and murder to conceal a crime.
The security camera footage showed Wasin being attacked by the two men, who approached him on a motorcycle while he was on the footpath and using his phone.
Wasin was seen fighting back and Kittikorn then stabbed him in the neck, upon which the victim fell to the ground. The attackers also slit his throat before stealing his phone, but left his wallet behind.
Earlier reports said Kittikorn and Supatchai committed three other crimes on the night of Jan 4 and in the early hours of Jan 5, 2017.
On Jan 4, they allegedly tried and failed to snatch a bag from a woman on Soi Sukhonthasawat 27. Eight minutes later they murdered Wasin and took his iPhone. A few hours after that the two allegedly stole another iPhone from a woman on Soi Sukhonthasawat 9.
They are also accused of later robbing another woman and making off with her phone and 5,000 baht from outside Synphaet Hospital in Kannayao district.
Since the age of 13, Kittikorn had been jailed eight times previously - for trespassing, physical assault and drug abuse. He was released in December 2016, shortly before murdering Wasin.