Suspect nabbed in boy's torture-death

Suspect nabbed in boy's torture-death

A 37-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder after allegedly torturing his eight-year-old stepson and fatally assaulting him, police said.

Wirat Sae Heng, a native of Songkhla who worked as a mechanic in Saraburi, was nabbed on Wednesday evening in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Kui Buri district while on the run.

Police launched a manhunt after he was identified as a suspect in the death of the eight-year-old boy in Sara Buri's Nong Khae district. The child was rushed to Nong Khae Hospital early on Wednesday with multiple injuries and was pronounced dead.

According to an initial investigation, the assault took place on Tuesday night at the house the suspect shared with his 33-year-old girlfriend and her two children, the victim and a 16-year-old girl.

Mr Wirat, who was reportedly drunk, tied the child up and repeatedly whipped him with a power cable. Instead of releasing the child, he left him there and went to bed, police said.

When he woke up at about midnight, he had the boy urinate in a bottle and then made him drink his own urine. He allegedly kicked the boy several times before he passed out.

Mr Wirat then allegedly untied the child and tried to wake him. He claims he woke the boy's mother up and took the boy to the hospital. After that, he went home, packed his bags and drove off on his motorcycle.

Police found a power cable and a bottle with urine in it when they searched the house for evidence.

According to police, Mr Wirat had a history of violence against his stepson, allegedly hitting him and scolding him for not doing his homework.

The suspect admitted assaulting the child once. He was handed over to police in Nong Khae district and charged with torture, homicide and illegal detention causing death.

He was almost lynched while escorted by authorities from the house, with onlookers throwing objects at him.

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