Drunk student who killed three cyclists given a 2 year sentence

[webfact]

Drunk student who killed three cyclists given a 2 year sentence


Image: Daily News

CHIANG MAI: -- A student who knocked down and killed three cyclists on the Chiang Mai - Doi Saket road in May last year has finally been sentenced.

Patchuda Jayreuan, 23, faced charges of negligent driving, causing damage and drunk driving, reported Daily News.

She was sentenced to four years reduced to two years on her admission of the offence.

The Chiang Mai court also ordered her to pay relatives of those she killed a total of 2.1 million baht. This is in addition to the 1.2 million baht that each victim's family received in insurance payouts in February.

The accident happened on May 3 2015 when the student's black Toyota hit the cyclists on route 118.

Relatives had sought four million baht in compensation for each victim and complained about the settlement.

Patchuda's lawyer made an application for bail pending an appeal.

Source: Daily News


-- 2016-06-01

[KunMatt]

Missed this story before. Why was she only charged with negligent driving, causing damage and drunk driving and not, you know, killing 3 people?

[robertthebruce]

Little Miss Innocent..... NOT......

Terrible....just another classic story here in Thailand.....

No Justice for the Dead........

[webfact]

Drunk driver who killed three cyclists given two years imprisonment



CHIANG MAI: -- A woman who crashed her car into a group of cyclists killing three of them while under the influence of alcohol was sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Chiang Mai provincial court on Tuesday.

The court found Ms Patchuda Jairuen guilty of drunk driving causing deaths to three bicyclists. The incident took place on Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai highway in Chiang Mai’s Doi Saket district on May 3 last year.

The court initially handed down four years’ jailterm on the defendant but halved the sentence for her useful testimony without any suspension of the imprisonment. The court also revoked her driving licence.

Ms Patchuda was also ordered by the court to pay 1.7 million baht in compensation to the widow of one of the cyclists, Mr Samarn Kantha, and 435,000 baht in compensation to the parents of another victim, Mr Pongthep Kamkaew.

The defendant said she would appeal against her conviction and asked for bail through her lawyer.

Commenting on the court’s verdict, Dr Taeching Siripanich, secretary-general of No Drink Driving Foundation, admitted that he was surprised by the court’s refusal to suspend the jailterm for the defendant despite the fact that she is a student, noting that in most previous cases of fatal road accidents the court usually suspended the jailterm.

He said that the verdict should set a precedent for other drunk driving cases, noting that there are two important drunk driving cases still pending in the court.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/165514


-- Thai PBS 2016-06-01

[KunMatt]

What else am I missing; she paid compensation to 2 of the 3 victim's families, so if she didn't settle with the 3rd victim's fskily then why wasn't she tried for their death??

Edited May 31, 2016 by KunMatt

[Nicolas32]

Complete joke the justices system in Thailand ..

[Thechook]

And if your rich and kill 9,you pay less compensation, get a couple of months community service and don't even have to turn up.

[hgma]

The PR show seems more important then the actual facts

[z42]

<deleted> disgraceful. How is this even approaching justice? Purely a rhetorical question of course, but I am shocked at the leniency shown here, and the gall of this person to seek bail, assuming her sentence was reduced due to her testimony (a confession of sorts perhaps), then what grounds are there for bail then?

3rd world BS, someone sends some text messages and gets 30 years, and then this only merits 4 (down to 2 on appeal). And shame on the families for not pushing for more suitable justice for their loved ones. Sick story

[shirtless]

It should be more than 2 years its laughable.

[DavisH]

She'll be out on bail by brunch ...will never see a jail cell.

[alfalfa19]

It seems she didn't have sufficient resources to be excused.

[puukao]

cyclists are not valued as human beings like motorists. This is a world-wide issue.

Ironically, the cyclist usually owns a car and makes good money at work. sure, SE Asia might not fit this generalization.

Some bikes are now 10,000 USD.....

But we are pests of the road, getting in the way of society, trying to improve our health and enjoy the scenery while drivers usually hate us. You ride in a pack!!! they yell, while the driver goes 100 in a 50 speed limit, while texting and sometimes smoking/drinking. they use their power over us, able to kill us at any moment.....bullying, which sometimes results in death.

i say 20-years per death, but that's just me....

[ezzra]

This morning we were reading how the PM said that the abbot of wat dhammakaya will be

arrested, " in his life time " and now this, a hi so girl who got out almost scott free for ending the life

of three people, is the government, the police and the judiciary system sending the wrong

messages here, where by saying that crime and disregarding the laws of the land, DOSE PAY.......

[BlindMagician]

I'm surprised she wasn't rewarded for helping the cyclists in their quest for nirvana, you know, the whole reincarnation thing....death ain't so bad.

[mihalis]

Happens all over the world, sadly !

[ALFREDO]

Guys.. it was just an accident. She was 'drunk' only by Thailand's insanely strict limits. Many countries she wouldn't even be over the limit. Cause was being tired, and idiot cyclists peddling on a highway in the middle of the night (5am).

If anyone really wants to die: find a country where there is only one type of road for everything from 16 wheel trucks to noodle carts, and then go bike there in the middle of the night.

No argument with the sentence though; because of all the media attention and need to set an example I guess 2 years was handed out. Will get turned into one year on appeal plus a confession, and that's not unreasonable.

Idiots? Middle of the night? Thai Highway? 5 AM?

Just a 2 lane road-in each direction I believe, with U-turns ect. No racing circuit!

If the cyclists had been killed on one of the few "real Highways"

in Thailand around Bangkok-Pattaya, not allowed for any 2 wheeler, no U-turns, mostly with a fee to use, I would understand a bit of your arguments.

-Winni- get your facts before writing

By the way - did not see where you got the 5 AM time from? saw a time off 6:15 AM instead

See here

"Three were killed and two others were badly injured when a speeding car driven by an allegedly drunk university student hit into the rear of a group of 20 bikers

who were making morning exercise ride in Chiang Mai's Doi Saket at 6:15 am Sunday, police said.

The car driver was identified as Patchuada Jairuean, 23. Police said she appeared drunk.

Witnesses told police that the bikers were riding in a row on the left lane and the car hit them at the speed of at least 100 kilometers per hour."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Three-cyclists-killed-two-others-injured-when-hit--30259251.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822236-three-cyclists-killed-two-others-injured-when-hit-by-speeding-car/

Edited June 1, 2016 by ALFREDO

[oxo1947]

The defendant said she would appeal against her conviction and asked for bail through her lawyer.---OP

Wow she must have thought it was a bit tough to also lose your license.

Never mind there is a job waiting for her on her release.............long distance bus driver..............

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

Let people know where you're going" my G/F driving examiner said as she approached a roundabout.
"OK" she replied, as she quickly updated her Facebook status.

Edited June 1, 2016 by oxo1947

[outlaw11wa]

Seriously guys if you watch the news in any country and you will notice that property and money is more important than human life. Sentences for fraud or stealing get heavier sentences than premeditated murder. No point complaining about the sentence. She didn't get to walk away Scott free. She made a mistake driving in her condition whether drunk or over tired. We can only assume her legal advice was to plead as she did in the circumstances. Happens in every court in the world. Plead for a response that is acceptable to the court. I say that because none of us are privy to the full facts and situation that was delivered to the court.

[overherebc]

Complete joke the justices system in Thailand ..

Figures from the UK show that about one third of those convicted of causing death while driving drunk or DUI get community service and a large fine.

The usual sentence in UK is 3 to 4 years with a fine that can be as much as 3000 to 4000 UK pounds.

Doesn't seem too much different from Thailand and probably hinges on how much you can pay for a good lawyer to fight your case.

Just saying.

[koolkarl]

Another example of a conceited brat with a rich daddy, killing 3 innocent people from poor families.

One day, a spoiled brat will kill a person from a wealthy family and then you will see justice.

[fred110]

Missed this story before. Why was she only charged with negligent driving, causing damage and drunk driving and not, you know, killing 3 people?

She must have a powerful father.

[MikeTexas]

She should have spent a couple of weeks in a temple then the problem would have gone away.

[gandalf12]

But give flowers and you get a 4 year sentence. If anyone can figure out the logic I would love to hear the reasoning.

It just shows that life here has no value what so ever; what a very sad state of affairs.

[harada]

Cashed up brat kills 3 with hard evidence and gets 2 years, migrant workers allegedly kill 2 get with no evidence and get the death penalty?

[northernboy]

It is nice on TV you're damned if you do and you're damned if you send drunk drivers that case manslaughter to Jail.

She is hardly a poor peasant and is at least a warning to others that drunk driving is not an acceptable thing anymore in Thailand.

The judge by his action has pushed for at least a jail term for the richest violators by setting a new precedent of jail terms for offenders.

The fact is if anyone can not see this, most important judgment, then maybe they can not see the end of their nose and think they are still "back Home".

[bristolgeoff]

what did the actress in bkk get no goal time but paid the family for the loss.this one got 2 years and still paid the family.did she have too pay 2.1 all together or to each family.anyway I agree what are cyclist doing riding at 5 am,where they any lights on the bikes as well.this is thailand

[gandalf12]

It is nice on TV you're damned if you do and you're damned if you send drunk drivers that case manslaughter to Jail.

She is hardly a poor peasant and is at least a warning to others that drunk driving is not an acceptable thing anymore in Thailand.

The judge by his action has pushed for at least a jail term for the richest violators by setting a new precedent of jail terms for offenders.

The fact is if anyone can not see this, most important judgment, then maybe they can not see the end of their nose and think they are still "back Home".

Sentences should be hard but unlike your way of thinking they should be realistic. Right now it depends on who you are which could give the death penalty or a slap on the wrist. I suggest you get a bit of sense before operating your keyboard.

There have been a number of cases were the person killed others in their car yet have had no real sentence passed down whilst others have done nothing in real terms and been given jail time. If you can justify it please post the justification if not dont bother posting

[hobobo]

Complete joke the justices system in Thailand ..

You can see from her face, the smart bi*ch is already planning a booze party!

[seedy]

Derogatory post Removed. People have died, leaving behind people who loved them. Show some compassion.