13 sentenced for dormitory murder of university student

13 sentenced for dormitory murder of university student

Police escort suspects in the screwdriver-murder of a university student to the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok in March last year, when the CSD took over the case from police in Phetchaburi province. (File photo)
Police escort suspects in the screwdriver-murder of a university student to the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok in March last year, when the CSD took over the case from police in Phetchaburi province. (File photo)

The Criminal Court on Wednesday handed down prison terms ranging from 10 years to life for 13 people involved in the screwdriver-murder of an innocent student in Cha-am district of Phetchaburi early last year.

Life imprisonment was decreed for Dechathorn Mulmanee, 21, who was found guilty of trespassing and stabbing a screwdriver into the temple of Theerapong Thitithan, a 4th year student at Silpakorn University's Phetchaburi campus, at the victim's dormitory on Feb 25, 2017.

The term was commuted to 25 years and four months because he confessed.  

Also sentenced to life imprisonment was Kornkanok Waranyasathit, 23, who held the victim for Dechathorn to stab him. The screwdriver pierced 24-year-old Theerapong's brain.

The judgement was based on surveillance camera footage and eyewitness testimony.

Yanawat Tiptiangtae, 20, Rewat Wongkayai, 21, and Kritnan Niamngoen, 21, were sentenced to 11 years in prison for trespassing and physical assault.

Setha Uppatham, 27, Theeraphat Phosut, 20, Theerathanon Thapnak, 21, Supasit Deethuam, 21, and Shinkitti Athawanthana, 22, were sentenced to 10 years and six months in jail for physical assault.

Charinthorn Kaesan, 21, Pakin Sueanak, 19, and Athibodee Koonjaethong, 22, were sentenced to one-year imprisonment for trespassing.

All were ordered to pay compensation ranging from 95,000 baht to 6.8 million baht for property damage and injuries. Four of the victim's friends were also assaulted and severely injured.

The attack occurred at Ban Kriangkrai dormitory in Cha-am district on the night of Feb 25, 2017.

It followed the decision by Dechathorn's girlfriend to split from him and go out with another man, identified as "Ake".

She later broke up with Mr Ake and returned to Dechathorn, saying Mr Ake hurt her feelings, according to police.

Angry at how his girlfriend had been treated, Dechathorn led friends in a search for Mr Ake at the dormitory, but could not find him. So they attacked Mr Ake's friends, including Theerapong, instead.

Some of the attackers were reported to be the children of influential local figures.

The case was taken out of the hands of Phetchaburi police in March last year and passed to the CSD.

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