Uncle Kills Nephew Over Land Dispute in Sisaket

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A longstanding family dispute over land ownership ended in death on 29 January, when a 67-year-old man shot and killed his 40-year-old nephew in Kantharalak district, Sisaket province. The suspect later confessed to the crime, citing prolonged harassment and threats as his motive.

 

Police from Kantharalak Police Station responded to a call reporting a fatal shooting in a rice field south of Ban Ta Khruea, Village 4, Khanun Subdistrict. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of Mr. Wittun, 40, near an underground water pipe. He had been shot in the chest with a homemade long-barrel flintlock gun.

 

The suspect, identified as Mr. Mun, 67, fled the scene immediately after the shooting, escaping into a nearby rubber plantation at the edge of the village.

 

According to relatives, the victim and suspect were uncle and nephew and had been in conflict for some time. The dispute centred on a piece of land that had been passed down from their grandmother. The victim insisted that the suspect vacate the land, claiming it had been legally inherited by his mother.

 

Mr. Mun had been living in a small hut on the land for many years, but tensions escalated when Mr. Wittun and his friends dismantled an old house on the property on 24 January. This action is believed to have been the catalyst for the fatal confrontation.

 

A large-scale manhunt was launched, involving special task forces from the 23rd Ranger Regiment, police sniffer dogs, and drones for aerial surveillance.

 

After four hours of searching, authorities spotted a motionless figure in a cassava field approximately 600 metres from the crime scene. On closer inspection, they found Mr. Mun lying in an exhausted state, having endured hours under the scorching sun in an attempt to evade capture.

 

During initial questioning, Mr. Mun claimed he acted in self- defence, alleging that his nephew had repeatedly threatened him with an axe in an effort to force him off the land. Unable to endure the intimidation any longer, he fired the fatal shot.

 

The suspect was taken into custody along with the homemade firearm and transported to Kantharalak Police Station for further investigation. He is now facing charges of murder and illegal possession of a firearm.

 

Authorities continue to investigate the case, urging families involved in property disputes to seek legal resolution rather than resorting to violence.

 

-- 2025-01-31

 

 

[edwinchester]

I'd wager the victim didn't go to court and instead used threats and the dismantling of the shooters home because the court would almost certainly side with the old guy who had lived on the land for many years. When you ignore the law violence often results.

[PomPolo]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

they found Mr. Mun lying in an exhausted state, having endured hours under the scorching sun in an attempt to evade capture

 

Not exactly an aspiring MacGyver!