LAMPANG: A local politician shot a woman dead while arguing with her over the sale of a block of land on Monday night, police in Ko Kha district of this northern province said on Tuesday.
The shooting occurred about 9.30pm at a house in Mae Pum Luang village in tambon Mai Pattana, Ko Kha district.
According to witnesses, Nian Futhima, 56, and her husband Boonruang, 59, were sitting on a bamboo bed behind the house. Sawat Khammuangchai, 62, a former deputy chairman of the local tambon administration organisation, walked over from his house to join them.
Mr Boonruang said Mr Sawat and his wife began to argue heatedly. He was looking away from them when he heard a gunshot. He turned to back to them and saw his wife had been shot in the neck and was bleeding profusely. She died shortly afterward.
Mr Sawat was immediately detained by neighbours. He admitted to killing Nian in anger, saying she had spoken abusively to him.
Pol Maj Gen Anucha Uamcharoen, the Lampang police chief, said the motive was not politics although a local election was drawing near. He said the two quarrelled over a block of land.
Nian had bought the land from Mr Sawat, but Mr Sawat had refused to legally transfer ownership to her.
Mr Sawat was charged with premeditated murder.