Thai taxi driver sentenced to death for murder of Japanese teacher

[webfact]

Husband gets death for murder of Japanese teacher

BANGKOK: -- The Criminal Court today sentenced a taxi driver to death and his wife 20 years in prison after finding them guilty in the conspiracy to murder a 79-year-old Japanese teacher in September 2014.

Jealousy was the motive for the gruesome murder of the Japanese teacher who was the new husband of the Thai wife, the Court ruled.

But both confessed to their crimes against Mr Yoshinori Shimato and had the death sentence commuted to life term for the Thai husband, and his wife 20 years.

Somchai Keawbangyang, 47, and wife Pornchanok Chaiyapa, 47, were charged with the murder of Mr Shimato, the new husband of Mrs Pornchanok, and chopping his body and throwing the pieces into a canal in Bang Bo district of Samut Prakarn in September 2014.

Both are still facing another murder case in which a Japanese businessman died 11 years ago.

In the case in 2003 a Japanese businessman Kisitoshi Tanaka died falling from the third floor stairways of an apartment room in Bang Plee, Samut Prakarn where he rented and lived with his Thai wife Pornchanok.

In this case, the death was recorded to be accident and insurance payment had been claimed by Mrs Pornchanok

But suspicion arose when the Thai couple were arrested for murder of another Japanese teacher in 2014, 11 years later after Tanaka’s death.

Intense interrogation by the police over Tanaka’s death in 2003, forced Somchai to admit to killing the Japanese businessman out if jealousy.

He admitted to push the Japanese husband of his wife down from the stairways outside the victim’s third floor room.

He recalled that he had a drink before with the victim but left the room later.

However he returned again and called up Mr Tanaka to open the door. When Tanaka came out, he assaulted and pushed him down the stairways.

Tanaka fell on the stairways of the second floor unconsciously, he said adding that he pulled up his head and pressed his neck in between the stair grill and stepped on his head with his leg until he died.

He said he killed the Japanese businessman as he was jealous with him getting married to his wife.

Somchai affirmed that in this murder he did by himself with his former wife Pornchanok knowing nothing about it.

Earlier information revealed by Tanaka’s daughter Ms Keiko Matta aroused the police to look into the possibility of another murder case rather than normal accident.

She said earlier before her father’s death, Mrs Pornchanok bought insurance policy for his father, and after his death was quick to claim the insurance money for herself.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/husband-gets-death-for-murder-of-japanese-teacher

-- Thai PBS 2016-01-14

[neverdie]

Token " Death Sentence".

I don't think the Thais are executing folk these days, so what's the point of issuing a death sentence?

[rkidlad]

Token " Death Sentence".

I don't think the Thais are executing folk these days, so what's the point of issuing a death sentence?

Probably just to remind everyone that they're still a 'Buddhist' nation.

[Bernard Flint]

not a problem, some say you can buy your way out of murders hahahahahhahaha

[Katipo]

Poor fella can't have had enough money or influence to buy himself a foreign scapegoat or two.

[klauskunkel]

Ms Keiko Matta aroused the police to look into the possibility of another murder case

Thanks, now I can't get the picture out of my head of aroused police officers in the streets. Stuff of nightmares

[Basil B]

Would that be a stick up???

[stickylies]

Token " Death Sentence".

I don't think the Thais are executing folk these days, so what's the point of issuing a death sentence?

Probably just to remind everyone that they're still a 'Buddhist' nation.

AKA Nestlé Buddhism

[billbellamy]

Are they serious? Jealousy is the motive? How is this not obvious con men/women planning and intentionally seeking out older foreign men to marry and kill in hopes of a financial payoff.

This has nothing to do with alcohol or accident or "oops I just got so angry I had to kill that evil foreign man for being with my wife"

Who but only the Thai masses buys this shit?

And unbelievable that the daughter had to coax the police into putting these 2 murders together.

Makes you wonder how many other falls from heights are neither accident nor suicide.

[WhamBam]

Quote..... "Tanaka fell on the stairways of the second floor unconsciously, he said adding that he pulled up his head and pressed his neck in between the stair grill and stepped on his head with his leg until he died."

This is such a nice Thai guy.

[soalbundy]

Quote..... "Tanaka fell on the stairways of the second floor unconsciously, he said adding that he pulled up his head and pressed his neck in between the stair grill and stepped on his head with his leg until he died."

This is such a nice Thai guy.

He has this thing about the Japanese.

[clockman]

Not the first case, or the last!

[wabothai]

You see, justice served. 20 years in Bangkok Hilton about jealousy. just for the first case, and then another 20 years to think about .... really does not matter.

The world is better off without you scum.

Thai ladies who have any ideas, think twice.

[SOTIRIOS]

...they murdered 2 people as far as we know....

,,,greed...not jealousy...as they conspired in both cases....

...they should get way more than 20 years....

...the daughter(s) and other non-Thai surviving family of the victims should be given ALL the assets...

...that would be justice....

...fat chance though...

[Emster23]

Fair enough. BTW how they doin' with the Son of Red Bull case?

Edited January 14, 2016 by Emster23

[RC8]

Quote..... "Tanaka fell on the stairways of the second floor unconsciously, he said adding that he pulled up his head and pressed his neck in between the stair grill and stepped on his head with his leg until he died."

This is such a nice Thai guy.

Not very impressed with the coroner who failed to notice the injury that caused death could not have occurred by falling down the stairs!

20 years means you serve about 6?

Life sentence means what in reality?

[thairookie]

It's not motivated by jealousy. It was 100% a case of the Thai man having lost his face.

Edited January 14, 2016 by thairookie

[siliconvalley]

Wow..

Let's just steal, kill, rob, betray, murder, lie, fabricate, point, and collect till all farangs realize we only want 1 thing.

You will never be Thai. This is our "Get Out of Free Jail" card.

[Howitzer]

surprised nobody came in with oh if the victims were farangs instead they wouldn't have been charged this seriously shtick.

[Scouse123]

There is no ' loss of face ' there is no ' jealousy ' Why not call these crimes what they are " premeditated murder for nothing other than GREED! "

it's open and shut and black and white and as simple as that, the rest is just lies, smoke and mirrors.

DISGUSTING!

Many of these filthy ignorant uneducated scum know nothing of Buddhism and just use it as a get out clause to try and say they repent in the hope of lesser sentences.

Wow, and how many times have we heard " A Thai person wouldn't do this, a Thai person wouldn't do that "

Well, we know exactly what they are capable of, and lying and claiming sorrow and regret are right up there at the top of the list. They are masters at both.

Edited January 14, 2016 by Scouse123

[Maestro]

Token " Death Sentence".

I don't think the Thais are executing folk these days, so what's the point of issuing a death sentence?

Generally, when an accused person confesses, the sentence gets reduced by half. Since there is no half of a death sentence, it is reduced to a sentence for life.

[Thian]

Token " Death Sentence".

I don't think the Thais are executing folk these days, so what's the point of issuing a death sentence?

Are you serious??? He got the death sentence but they won't kill him? Does the same go for the 2 Burmese from koh tao?

I still learn a lot about Thailand every day, can't believe this.

[Scouse123]

Under the Thai system, the death sentence applies to the Burmese two as they fought their case, pleaded not guilty and lost, regardless of how badly that case was conducted, under Thai law, they were given the maximum.

We will have to see how this plays out in the appeal court and the Supreme Court which could take another 8-10 years. Because of all the negative publicity, the Thais will purposely " drag their feet " in the hope that people's memories fade and it doesn't create the tremendous feeling it is doing at the moment.

Sad, but this is their system.

Edited January 14, 2016 by Scouse123

[lvr181]

"Murder" someone and you get life reduced to 20 years but if you use a car to kill someone you get nothing?? Hard to figure that one. Is this what is meant by "thainess", selective sentencing?

[phantomfiddler]

Billbellamy is right on the mark ! Jealousy never entered into the equation, just pure greed by a ruthless couple General statistics have it that about 80% of women here have a boyfriend, husband, or pimp lurking in the background waiting for his "salary". Handle with care

[djayz]

Stupid, lazy, filthy scum! Too stupid and lazy to make their own money so they take another person's life just for financial gain! Sick scum! I hope they both rot in prison.

I despise people who live off others.

Edited January 14, 2016 by djayz

[Foozool]

"Somchai Keawbangyang, 47, and wife Pornchanok Chaiyapa, 47, were charged with the murder of Mr Shimato, the new husband of Mrs Pornchanok, and chopping his body and throwing the pieces into a canal in Bang Bo district of Samut Prakarn in September 2014."

How many husband a Thai woman possibly could have ??!!!

[Tom Cahill]

There is no ' loss of face ' there is no ' jealousy ' Why not call these crimes what they are " premeditated murder for nothing other than GREED! "

it's open and shut and black and white and as simple as that, the rest is just lies, smoke and mirrors.

DISGUSTING!

Many of these filthy ignorant uneducated scum know nothing of Buddhism and just use it as a get out clause to try and say they repent in the hope of lesser sentences.

Wow, and how many times have we heard " A Thai person wouldn't do this, a Thai person wouldn't do that "

Well, we know exactly what they are capable of, and lying and claiming sorrow and regret are right up there at the top of the list. They are masters at both.

Hypocritoscouse?

[Norvid 1950]

Buddhists? ..................Memento mori..........................You can't take money with you..........................to a recycling place; (whatever it is)

[Trouble]

Quite obvious to me that this couple just set up both these guys and are both involved in the plan to marry and then murder older Japanese men. He did the dirty work and gets life she gets 20 years. She is as guilty as he is planning the murders in my opinion.