Thai Supreme Court acquits three brothers of murder conspiracy in activist's death

[webfact]

Supreme Court acquits three brothers of murder conspiracy in activist’s death



BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court today freed three suspects charged with the murder conspiracy of Bo Nok power plant project protest leader Charoen Wat-aksorn on June 21, 2004 in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

The three suspect brothers are Manoch Hinkaeo, a former provincial councillor of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Jua Hinkaeo, a former Tambon Bo Nok headman, and Thanoo Hinkaeo.

Only Manoch and Jua appeared before the court to listen to the final ruling, while Thanoo is on the run with arrest warrant on his head.

Also arrived at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek road in Bangkok to hear the verdict were more than 100 residents from Bo Nok, including Charoen’s wife Korn-uma.

The three were charged with the hiring of the gunmen to shoot Charoen.

At today’s hearing of the verdict read at the Criminal Court, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Appeals Court that earlier acquitted the three brothers of the charges with reason that there was no substantial evidence to support that the three hired gunmen to shoot Charoen, and there was no evidence that proved they had any commercial interests in the power plant project.

The court also ordered the warrant for the arrest of Thanoo be revoked.

The two gunmen Saneh Lekluan and Prachuap Hinkaew who were arrested had died in prison in August 2006 before the ruling would be reached by the first court.

But the Appeals Court acquitted the three brothers of the he charges in March 2013.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/supreme-court-acquits-three-brothers-of-murder-conspiracy-in-activists-death


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-13

[clockman]

More Thai justice!

[Artisi]

The 2 gunmen died in prison, Oh! how convenient ............... was it from old age waiting for their turn in court?

[fstarbkk]

So the two shooters BOTH die in prison, and with them any connection to the 3 alleged conspirators? Surely that was thoroughly investigated...

[seajae]

so one of them is still on the run, guess that proves his innocence, like thaksin he ran because he wasnt guilty of anything. Got to laugh at how these idiots reach these decisions, guess common sense isnt a requirement for the position, either that or the envelope was a very fat one.

[diehard60]

three government employees working for the military.

[oneday]

Only in movies do you see this type of story, except in the movie the bad guys are usually caught.

Shooters died in prison...right...even a 3 year old can see how suspicious that looks.

[emilymat]

so one of them is still on the run, guess that proves his innocence, like thaksin he ran because he wasnt guilty of anything. Got to laugh at how these idiots reach these decisions, guess common sense isnt a requirement for the position, either that or the envelope was a very fat one.

He's OK now. They've withdrawn the warrant. But......why did he go on the run???

[Thai at Heart]

They acquited a bloke on the run. Interesting situation

[halloween]

three government employees working for the military.

Interesting conclusion. Do you know who was PM of Thailand in 2004? I guess not.

[MZurf]

They acquited a bloke on the run. Interesting situation

The Thai justice system at its finest.

[MZurf]

three government employees working for the military.

Interesting conclusion. Do you know who was PM of Thailand in 2004? I guess not.

Oh, you mean that the Thai military has ever answered to an elected government?

[halloween]

three government employees working for the military.

Interesting conclusion. Do you know who was PM of Thailand in 2004? I guess not.

Oh, you mean that the Thai military has ever answered to an elected government?

Does that have any relevance to either post, or are you trolling again?

[Rimmer]

Troll post removed

[EnglishJohn]

Every single case seems be be 'Not guilty through lack of evidence". They are never 'proven innocent'.

And luckily for many of them it is things like CCTV tapes going missing. And both gunmen dying in prison ?. Come on. Why are these things just accepted by the Thai media who seem to know when to keep quiet ?.

I have no faith in the Thai police, justice system and ethics of the media whatsoever.