CCTV footage may offer clue on shooting by actor

Khanathit Srihirundaj,

Noppadol Srithaweekard

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Police are checking security-camera foot-age to determine whether actor Porames Singpho's shooting of his business partner was accidental, as claimed by him, an informed source said yesterday.

The video recording appeared to tell a different story, according to the source, who was familiar with the police investigation into the case.

The Channel 3 actor shot his friend and business partner Noppadol Athibai, 44, at close range following a dispute in a parking lot in Bangkok's Soi Thong Lor 8 on Thursday. The man was rushed to a hospital with a severe head wound and was later pronounced dead.

Shortly after the incident, Porames surrendered to police with his 9mm pistol. He told police the shooting was accidental and that it took place while he and the victim were wrestling for the gun.

Police initially charged Porames with attempted murder, possessing a firearm without permission, and carrying it in a public place. He was later released on Bt200,000 bail as Noppadol, who sustained a gunshot in the head, succumbed to his fatal injury. Police will now charge Porames with murder.

Thong Lor investigator Pol Lt-Colonel Saravuth Dechsri yesterday said the 33-year-old actor had not returned the police's calls and text messages.

Saravuth said Porames was scheduled to report himself to police on February 5. By that time, police could notify him of the additional charge of premeditated murder and increase his bail amount.

The officer declined to give details of the CCTV footage, which the source alleged might reveal the shooting wasn't "accidental". He said the police had interviewed two security guards, a woman who had come with the deceased and another woman who had come with Porames. Only Porames's sister was yet to give testimony.

He said the guards testified that they saw Porames flee, holding a gun, so police initially charged him accordingly. He said police should have the results of the ballistic and gunpowder tests by January 21.

The shooting raised questions about the appropriateness of carrying a gun on a night out in town. The Crime Reporters' Association yesterday reported that there were 485 licensed gun shops in Thailand, 367 of them in Bangkok. The gun shops had sold 240,000 pistol bullets and 1,067,664 shotgun bullets from 2007-2010.

As of 2011, 3.67 million pistols and 2.45 million rifles had been registered for personal possession. A total of 6.12 million guns were registered, or one gun for every 10 Thais, according to the association.

-- The Nation 2013-01-20

$6000 USD seems to be the price of being freed on murder in Thailand

Only in Thailand. Can't be charged with murder because he doesn't answer an sms.

Why on earth aren't a couple of Thailands finest sent around to his house to pick him up?

Edited January 20, 201313 yr by edwinchester

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes sir! Sorry sir! Of course you can have bail."

Note ".... the additional charge of premeditated murder and increase his bail amount." Just what do you have to do here before you are remanded in custody?

hehehh the usual complaints here, its the Thai way like it or not

I notice, there is a lot of "accidental shooting" going on here!

Loopy. Why pull a gun over a parking space? But Like Red Bull, will this ever go anywhere?

Thong Lor investigator Pol Lt-Colonel Saravuth Dechsri yesterday said the 33-year-old actor had not returned the police's calls and text messages.

Saravuth said Porames was scheduled to report himself to police on February 5. By that time, police could notify him of the additional charge of premeditated murder and increase his bail amount.

I guess there will also no need for him to show up on February 5 as he can claim he was notified of the additional charge already through this Thaivisa thread.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes sir! Sorry sir! Of course you can have bail."

Note ".... the additional charge of premeditated murder and increase his bail amount." Just what do you have to do here before you are remanded in custody?

Be a westerner on a speeding charge?

"The shooting raised questions about the appropriateness of carrying a gun on a night out in town."

Why would a journalist write this????.......they would be down the road if they worked for me and produced this <deleted>...

I notice, there is a lot of "accidental shooting" going on here!

The best place to clean an Uzi is at the dinner table.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes sir! Sorry sir! Of course you can have bail."

Note ".... the additional charge of premeditated murder and increase his bail amount." Just what do you have to do here before you are remanded in custody?

Nothing, the prerequisite is being poor. Prisons are stocked full with them. The police don't want any more mouths to feed.

Only in Thailand. Can't be charged with murder because he doesn't answer an sms.

Why on earth aren't a couple of Thailands finest sent around to his house to pick him up?

'Thailand's finest'? where do you find them? Do such people exist? ....ok, perhaps in a comparative way. You could have a toad pit (as my neighbor does, no kidding), and within that horde of toads, you could find 'the finest.'

"He told police the shooting was accidental and that it took place while he and the victim were wrestling for the gun."

Accidental, am I missing something here?

Why was the gun "out"?

Why were they wrestling for the gun?

Now am waiting for some apologist to pipe up and show examples of actors shooting people in other countries.....

OJ ?

totster

OJ ?

totster

Nope. Stabbing...

$6000 USD seems to be the price of being freed on murder in Thailand

-----------------------------

If you read the article you will see that he hasn't been charged with murder yet, that's what they need to review the CCTV footadge to determine.

Hope he gets an Oscar for the cctv act.

Now am waiting for some apologist to pipe up and show examples of actors shooting people in other countries.....

It will come. Where's Nisa?

Only in Thailand. Can't be charged with murder because he doesn't answer an sms.

Why on earth aren't a couple of Thailands finest sent around to his house to pick him up?

May I suggest it might be too much like commonsense, too hard to organise and too much like hard work ?

Only in Thailand. Can't be charged with murder because he doesn't answer an sms.

Why on earth aren't a couple of Thailands finest sent around to his house to pick him up?

In my 15 years here I have never failed to be surprised at how people are "summoned" for interview even for serious crime. The date to appear for interview is sometimes weeks away which allows for the destruction of evidence, buying / intimidation of witnesses and so on - maybe of course that's the idea

Now am waiting for some apologist to pipe up and show examples of actors shooting people in other countries.....

It will come. Where's Nisa?

It is well documented that you are more likely to be shot by a movie star in a public carpark than you are of being mugged and murdered in a back alley by a psycho chicken.

Only in Thailand. Can't be charged with murder because he doesn't answer an sms.

Why on earth aren't a couple of Thailands finest sent around to his house to pick him up?

"Mai Pen Rai" extends to everything here it seems. I think the Thais have a word similar to "Manyana" (excuse spelling if wrong) but it doesn't' convey quite the same sense of urgency

Only in Thailand. Can't be charged with murder because he doesn't answer an sms.

Why on earth aren't a couple of Thailands finest sent around to his house to pick him up?

I would think they would have more important things to occupy their time such as protecting gambling dens, extorting motorists and the ever popular "Helmet Days" to name but a few money making duties

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes sir! Sorry sir! Of course you can have bail."

Note ".... the additional charge of premeditated murder and increase his bail amount." Just what do you have to do here before you are remanded in custody?

Well until last week when Dojik got bail, Lese Majeste was the only sure fire way of being refused bail. It seems now there are no crimes that are nor 'bailable' now!

Gosh, I hope no one accidentally wipes the tape and the evidence is lost.

Quote - "following a dispute in a parking lot in Bangkok's Soi Thong Lor 8 on Thursday". Does not get more "accidental" than this I'd say. Thankfully, the shooter did not go on an American-style rampage after being upset.

Loopy. Why pull a gun over a parking space? But Like Red Bull, will this ever go anywhere?

Is there another report that says the dispute was about a parking place?

"Thong Lor investigator Pol Lt-Colonel Saravuth Dechsri yesterday said the 33-year-old actor had not returned the police's calls and text messages."

Sounds like the cad is evading responsibilities (is there even a Thai word for 'responsibilities'?). If so, grab his ass (not his donkey), lock him up and forfeit the bail.