Photo courtesy of Thai PBS

 

Eleven former students of Pathumwan Institute of Technology received life sentences from the Criminal Court in Bangkok for the murder of a Rajamangala University graduate and injuring three others during a wedding on August 14, 2022. The ruling followed their involvement in a premeditated attack at a ceremony aimed at avenging the death of a fellow student. Three co-defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

 

The defendants, part of a larger group, orchestrated a gun attack targeting attendees at a wedding linked to a student from the Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok. This was reportedly in retaliation for the killing of their peer in July 2022. The assailants struck in Bangkok’s Sutthisan area, leaving Natthawut Phinitmai dead and three others seriously injured.

 

Originally sentenced to death, the court reduced the punishment to life imprisonment thanks to the defendants' cooperation. They must also pay 1.6 million baht compensation to the deceased's mother, Rutjalak. She expressed gratitude for the judicial process, while mourning the loss of her son, who was considered an unfortunate casualty.

 

Rutjalak voiced her hope for an end to the longstanding rivalry between the institutes involved, highlighting the repeated tragic impact on innocents. This sentiment reflects broader concerns over recurring violence between these educational establishments.

 

Looking forward, the resolution of this case might pressure the involved institutions to address and mitigate further conflicts among their students. The ruling could serve as a cautionary tale, promoting discussions on conflict resolution and student safety in academia.

 

Key Takeaways

• Eleven Pathumwan students were sentenced to life for a 2022 shooting.
• The attack was motivated by a previous student killing incident.
• Compensation was awarded to the mother of a bystander victim.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS 2025-09-26

 

 

Good decision. Do have a question regarding "They must also pay 1.6 million baht compensation to the deceased's mother, Rutjalak." Just how are they supposed to come up with that money? These meatheads don't look like they are all that sharp in the personal finance area.... along with my guess that lawyers already have pretty well harvested available cash

Don't look very old , so that's their life over then 👍

How did they think it would end? ...did they think they would ride off into the sunset on a Harley with a big gun over their shoulder like in some movie ??

They must of missed the ending where they rot in prison.

Absolute young dumb and full of chum for brains ... ..

5 hours ago, Emdog said:

Good decision. Do have a question regarding "They must also pay 1.6 million baht compensation to the deceased's mother, Rutjalak." Just how are they supposed to come up with that money? These meatheads don't look like they are all that sharp in the personal finance area.... along with my guess that lawyers already have pretty well harvested available cash

Maybe they can join Thaksin's sewage squad in Klong Prem, and might over 30/40 years accumulate the cash. Probably too late for the mother, though. 

I grew up in LA.   can't remember any gun battles between students of USC or UCLA before the big football game every November.   Glad they brought the hammer down on this idiotic behavior.

5 hours ago, Emdog said:

Good decision. Do have a question regarding "They must also pay 1.6 million baht compensation to the deceased's mother, Rutjalak." Just how are they supposed to come up with that money? These meatheads don't look like they are all that sharp in the personal finance area.... along with my guess that lawyers already have pretty well harvested available cash

Guessing, but either the parents pay or, after they are released, they must repay using whatever wages they make. Interest is normally added for late payment of fines.

 

Going back 40 years. my Deceased FIL knifed a 'friend' to death after a drinking session.   He was given 8 years and actually did 3.     He was told he had to pay 10,000 Baht to the Widow of the 'friend' but was Potless and never paid a single Baht   In later life he told me he had no reccollection of what happened and he felt no remorse at any time.     Such is the cheapness of life in Thailand.

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

They must also pay 1.6 million baht compensation to the deceased's mother, Rutjalak.

How ?

7 hours ago, Emdog said:

"They must also pay 1.6 million baht compensation to the deceased's mother, Rutjalak." Just how are they supposed to come up with that money?

Maybe that's why 11 were convicted, so each only has to come up with 145,454 baht each!

 

did AN post this news article when it took place ?

6 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

He was told he had to pay 10,000 Baht to the Widow of the 'friend' but was Potless and never paid a single Baht   In later life he told me he had no reccollection of what happened and he felt no remorse at any time.     Such is the cheapness of life in Thailand.

No, such was the cheapness of life in the mindless mind of your FIL, it is not a reflection of the "cheapness of life" in most Thais eyes generally

6 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Going back 40 years. my Deceased FIL knifed a 'friend' to death after a drinking session.   He was given 8 years and actually did 3.     He was told he had to pay 10,000 Baht to the Widow of the 'friend' but was Potless and never paid a single Baht   In later life he told me he had no reccollection of what happened and he felt no remorse at any time.     Such is the cheapness of life in Thailand.

 

   Although 40 years ago ; 8 years then  would be equivalent to 35 years today due to inflation 

Whilst not in anyway condoning their actions I was hoping to see a little bit more about this "aimed at avenging the death of a fellow student."

How come somebody else was killed first. Was this deliberate or accidental?

On 9/26/2025 at 10:26 AM, snoop1130 said:

Originally sentenced to death, the court reduced the punishment to life imprisonment

 

Unfortunately, these punks will never serve their life imprisonment. they'll be out in a few years, I woould have liked them them to receive the death sentence.

What was wrong with the original sentence? Death by firing squad, seeing that they all liked guns,