From Phuket, Another Sad Story

[mikethevigoman]

PHUKET CITY: An enraged man slashed the throat of his pregnant girlfriend as she was working at a 7-Eleven store in Phuket City at 3:45 am on January 7. He was arrested by police the same day as he was preparing to leave the island.

Phuket City Police Superintendent Col Nos Svettalekha identified the victim as 26-year-old Vipaporn Yimaim, a native of Chainat.

As she was working at the 7-Eleven branch on Srisuthat Rd in tambon Talad Yai, Phuket City, her throat was slashed by a man wielding a 10-inch knife.

Col Nos identified the killer as 29-year-old Nuchan Munmeema, a native of the northeast province of Sakon Nakhon and the victim’s estranged lover.

Nuchan fled the scene but was caught by police at 8 pm the same day as he was waiting for a bus at Phuket Municipal Bus Station.

“He planned to go to Surat Thani so he could catch a train to Bangkok and get to his home in Sakon Nakhon,” Col Nos said.

“Nuchan was angry with Vipaporn because she had wanted to end her relationship with him. He is charged with murder and he is now in Phuket Provincial Prison. No one has yet shown up to post bail for him,” said Col Nos.

“Vipaporn was two months pregnant. Her body is now at Vachira Phuket Hospital,” he added.

[jonniebkk]

a sad story to be sure...but i think it falls more in the catagory of crime of passion rather than an example of how thai either do or do not value life. take the example of the vietnamese american in today's post who had an argument with his wife and later drove his 4 young children to a bridge and dropped them into a river (apparently drowning/killing them all). i would say the guy is mentally disturbed and not that all americans or vietnamese don't value life less than others.

as any woman knows in any country...they must be especially careful during the break-up period as so many men have such fragile egos and often lose the plod when they get dumped.

[Phil Conners]

"No one has yet shown up to post bail for him,”

Can you post bail when you're in for murder? That's absurd!

[sweetchariot]

You can post bail for anything in Thailand. Case recently about the murder of a farang, the Thai was bailed and surprisingly never showed up to receive his death sentence. I think alot of it is actually about buying yourself out of the punishment.

[Samuian]

Do thais value life at all ?

....just to be fair change "thais" with humans and you are about to be on the right track!

As if cruelty, murder, killing, robbing is essential thai...tztztztztztztztztztzt!

[Daffy D]

With regard to murderers walking free I know personally of two who are doing just that. Both Thai nationals not Farangs.

One is a man who had an argument with another man in a bar, he went home got a knife and returned to kill the guy. A couple of weeks later he was back walking the streets.

I don’t know the full details as it is difficult with the language translation to get solid information but it seems if he can pay a 100k fine within the next two years he will not have to serve jail time. He is making no effort to work or save money.

The other case involves a woman who stabbed her husband to death. We know this couple and to be honest he deserved it. Before all the self righteous jump in, it’s just an expression. Again I don’t know the details but after a couple of weeks she is back home with her kids.

Wonder would a Farang get such a break?

Daffy.

[torrenova]

Agreed that it is terrible to think of a sure as hel_l guilty murderer just getting off with it and then walking the streets. Then again, Thailand is one of those countries where, after the event and depending upon your wealth, they place a price on the victim's life and as long as that is paid and the BiB are paid off the perpetrator walks away.

[NanLaew]

From some of these posts, one would think that posting bail on a murder charge is a uniquely Thai event.

Not so; witness the most obvious, high-profile instance of OJ Smith. I don't recall he was incarcerated for very long despite the severity of the alleged crime.

Innocent until proven guilty should still be preserved and before the flame-throwers come out, just because there were witnesses, close-circuit TV footage or even an admission of guilt, the law has to be seen to be served correctly before we can accuse justly.

From first hand experience in the US, I also acknowledge that money talks in any society.

[ClaytonSeymour]

From some of these posts, one would think that posting bail on a murder charge is a uniquely Thai event.

Not so; witness the most obvious, high-profile instance of OJ Smith. I don't recall he was incarcerated for very long despite the severity of the alleged crime.

Innocent until proven guilty should still be preserved and before the flame-throwers come out, just because there were witnesses, close-circuit TV footage or even an admission of guilt, the law has to be seen to be served correctly before we can accuse justly.

From first hand experience in the US, I also acknowledge that money talks in any society.

With respect to cases as clear cut as this one; trial and punishment should be fast tracked.

[LeungKen]

Shouldn't this be in the Phuket Forum ?

[farangene]

From some of these posts, one would think that posting bail on a murder charge is a uniquely Thai event.

Not so; witness the most obvious, high-profile instance of OJ Smith. I don't recall he was incarcerated for very long despite the severity of the alleged crime....

Who is OJ Smith?

I remember several years ago there was a story concerning the godfather of of Pattaya. He was a Khamen and also father of one of Thaksin's ministers on the national cabinet. He was tried and convicted of murder. He then appealed the conviction but was given bail and told to report back in 90 days or some such time.

He has not been seen since.

[NanLaew]

Who is OJ Smith?

I remember several years ago there was a story concerning the godfather of of Pattaya. He was a Khamen and also father of one of Thaksin's ministers on the national cabinet. He was tried and convicted of murder. He then appealed the conviction but was given bail and told to report back in 90 days or some such time.

He has not been seen since.

OJ Simpson's alter ego? Or a typo... yeah, I admit it, a typo.

Similarly, bail jumping is not unique to Thailand is it? There is a trend for these rich Thai criminals to hide or flee the country versus the 'in your face' defiance of the rule of law we saw before. Where after greasing a few palms, it was business as usual, a fair few are now living less prolific lifestyles and that may be considered progress no? They may have an opulent home in say Cambodia but their freedoms are certainly getting more restricted.

[farangene]

Who is OJ Smith?

I.

OJ Simpson's alter ego? Or a typo... yeah, I admit it, a typo.

BTW, OJ "Smith" Simpson was re-arrested this week and put back in the Las Vegas jug for violating his bail orders. He isnot the smartest guy in the world.

[kash]

a sad story to be sure...but i think it falls more in the catagory of crime of passion rather than an example of how thai either do or do not value life. take the example of the vietnamese american in today's post who had an argument with his wife and later drove his 4 young children to a bridge and dropped them into a river (apparently drowning/killing them all). i would say the guy is mentally disturbed and not that all americans or vietnamese don't value life less than others.

as any woman knows in any country...they must be especially careful during the break-up period as so many men have such fragile egos and often lose the plod when they get dumped.

his thai wife, for the record.