Phuket Mob Bays For Blood At 'Nong Som' Murder Reenactment

[Lite Beer]

Phuket mob bays for blood at 'Nong Som' murder reenactment

Phuket Gazette –

Nong Som's father Khaneung was overcome with grief during the reenactment of his daughter's murder. Photo by Chutharat Plerin

Sixty officers had their hands full trying to protect the confessed murderer from the angry crowd in Chalong, Phuket. Photo by Chutharat Plerin.

PHUKET: There was a wild scene in a normally quiet Phuket suburb this morning, where more than 60 security officers were needed to prevent an irate crowd from lynching the man who murdered 17-year-old Sunisa ”Nong Som” Saiyoy on Tuesday.

Confessed killer Kittikhun Wonghajak arrived at the home of the late Nong Som at 10am today under the protection of Phuket Provincial Police, Chalong District Police and members of the Nakok Village Security Team to stage a reenactment of his crimes.

When they arrived, hundreds of people who had gathered outside the house shouted and swore at Kittikhun,with many trying to attack him.

Due to obvious security concerns, police decided not to go through with an original plan to reenact Kittikhun's arrival at the home by motorcycle. As soon as he stepped out of the police truck, he was taken directly inside the home behind a phalanx of security officers for his own protection.

Nong Som's grandmother Prayoon Hirio said she would be happy to let the angry mob inside the home to take revenge against Kittikhun, "even if the house collapses as a result".

Once inside, Nong Som's relatives continually swore and tried to attack him, only to be held back by the security team throughout the reenactment, which took about one hour.

Once inside, Kittikhun expressed remorse for the murder and begged the crowd for leniency.

"Let the criminal justice system judge me. Please don't hurt me anymore," said Mr Kittikhun, who was high on crystal meth and ya bah when he broke into the home four days earlier.

As for the case against him, Chalong Police Superintendent Sirisak Wasasiri said, “We are now awaiting autopsy results from the Institute of Forensic Medicine at Police General Hospital in Bangkok. Normally it takes up to 45 days, but we will ask them to send the report as soon as possible.”

“The suspect has been charged with robbery resulting in the death of the victim, which is a capital crime. He is also charged with sexual assault.

“This crime took place in broad daylight. Images from CCTV installed in the village were very useful in helping us capture the suspect shortly after the crime took place,” added Col Sirisak.

Also useful was the fact that the drug-addicted Kittikhun lived a stone's throw away from the largest police complex in the province. He also lacked the common sense by keeping stolen items in his rented flat. He was even wearing the same shoes used in the attack when police came to his door to question him on an unrelated theft charge.

Col Sirisak used the opportunity to urge one and all to install CCTV cameras.

"They can protect you as well as your neighbors," he said.

The staging of police reenactments for high-profile, heinous crimes remains a controversial issue. Police in Thailand claim they are necessary to help build up evidence in cases against suspects.

"Even though we had a problem completing the reenactment today, we are satisfied. We got what was required," he said.

There was one injury reported during the stand off between police and the angry mob.

Sen Sgt Maj Boonlerd Pueakphong of the Chalong Police Officer was mistakenly attacked by the angry villagers as he helped escorted Mr Kittikhun back to the police truck.

He happened to be wearing the same color shirt as Kittikhun.

He suffered a fractured index finger on his right hand and was sent to Phuket International Hospital for treatment.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article16420.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-07-14

[stevenl]

stevenl, on 2012-07-13 12:34:31, said:

maipompui, on 2012-07-13 12:19:21, said:

Another sad thing about this is the public, both Thai and expats and forum responses are far less intense than when the aus lady was murdered not long ago...different strokes for different folks , i guess....

Poor kid's death wont harm ''tourist $$$'' so not so much reaction...I think the other way around. 'We can not harm the tourist $$$'s with this poor kid's death so no point in posting about it.' A vast majority of the posters after an event like this declare their distaste for Phuket here and try to stear people away from Phuket. But they can't do that here, so no reaction from them, only from the people much more sincerely involved in Phuket.

Now on re reading ...thats a weird response to what i said...totally changed the meaning of my post ..

Sorry, quotes not correct after copying from the previous thread.

But I don't think it is a weird response, I'm agreeing with the first part of your assessment, which is a sad reflection of humanity. I just think the reason for the lack of reactions is different.

Edited July 15, 2012 by stevenl

[Hostile17]

Nice buddhist people there

and a police officer getting treatment at a private hospital?

i just love thailand

[Thaddeus]

What purpose did this re-enactment serve?

[stevenl]

What purpose did this re-enactment serve?

They always seem to do that here.

I think it strengthens the prosecutor's case tremendously, and that that is the main purpose.

[angiud]

Sound obvious, but I was hoping the mob could get the guy away from the police protection...

[crobe]

The purpose of the re-enactment is to show the alleged detailing the crime, so that the confession is not challenged as coerced.

[grumpyoldman]

Cops should've tossed the dog out of the truck and let the mob have at it.

[maipompui]

What purpose did this re-enactment serve?

They always seem to do that here.

I think it strengthens the prosecutor's case tremendously, and that that is the main purpose.

It may do so, but for crying out loud...the family are suffering enough already, and now have their home[and deathplace] of their daughter desecrated again for a theatrical re enactment.....bloody disgusting ....shame that no one did get to the rat...as someone said elsewhere, he'll cop it in jail....sure hope so!!!!!

I'm sure this <deleted> doesn't need to happen...its 2012 for gods sake...DNA, CCTV, confession from the rat etc,etc.....can make a strong case..!!!

[theajarn]

I wonder if someone has enough money to bribe the prison guards so that you know... perhaps there'll be a little 'escape' and the waiting villagers well... they just halted the scumbag's attempt to flee and accidentally ended up ripping his limbs off...

I feel so sorry for the parents... RIP to their child and I hope they get the closure they seek.

[ThaiPauly]

Obviously the police knew what was gonna happen when they took this guy to the house which is why police were out in force.

I'm not surprised in the least that the poor father is distraught as are the rest of the victims family.

I can't for the life of me see the benefit in these re-inactments, when the bold headline says he is the man who murdered this girl, not a suspect but the perp.

So somebody please tell me how doing this does more good than harm ?

[stevenl]

So somebody please tell me how doing this does more good than harm ?

Don't know if it is worth it yes or no, but if the suspect does the reenactment convincingly there is no way he can retract a confessions or fight any of the other evidence. So it does help the prosecution tremendously.

Pain for the relatives now, but it does help to get things over with as quickly as possible.

[madmitch]

What purpose did this re-enactment serve?

They always seem to do that here.

I think it strengthens the prosecutor's case tremendously, and that that is the main purpose.

Agree stevenl, but also it's great for the press and I also think it's a way of getting the accused to lose face absolutely, a major punishment in this part of the world.

Personally I very much dislike the concept.

[maipompui]

What purpose did this re-enactment serve?

They always seem to do that here.

I think it strengthens the prosecutor's case tremendously, and that that is the main purpose.

Agree stevenl, but also it's great for the press and I also think it's a way of getting the accused to lose face absolutely, a major punishment in this part of the world.

Personally I very much dislike the concept.

I dont just dislike it at all its so gross.......words cant describe the proceedure at all for me.. ...rubbing salt into the wound is all...its disgusting!!!!

[Thaddeus]

What purpose did this re-enactment serve?

They always seem to do that here.

I think it strengthens the prosecutor's case tremendously, and that that is the main purpose.

So, they have found a culprit, he has confessed, how much strengthening do you need?

The other line from another poster about if he manages to re-enact the crime as it was committed in his confession then it reinforces it, utter thing, if he did it, he knows how he did it, if he didn't and a confession has been beaten in to him, he just re-enacts what he has been told to do.

These re-enactments only serve one purpose, the boys in tight brown trousers get a photo-op, smiling to show how good they are at their jobs, nothing else.

[waza]

Thank goodness for CCTV, its solves more crimes than the police ever could

[KeyserSoze01]

I am curious why they are waiting for the autopsy report in order to file murder charges against him since he has already confessed to the murder.