Stoned, cornered and knifed: witness recalls how gang killed disabled man

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Stoned, cornered and knifed: witness recalls how gang killed disabled man

By Teeranai Charuvastra

 

Police escort the men accused of killing Somkiat Srichan to court on May 3, 2016.

 

BANGKOK — The last Ananchai Chaiyadech saw of his neighbor, a disabled man named Somkiat Srichan, he was being cornered and repeatedly stabbed by three men wielding knives.

 

“He was looking at me,” Ananchai, a lawyer by trade, told a packed courtroom Tuesday. “I could see in his eyes that he was pleading to me. He wanted me to help. But I couldn’t intervene."

 

Moments later Somkiat, who could not use his right leg, was slashed in the throat just as police officers arrived at the scene. He soon collapsed and died in the arms of his nephew.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2017/07/18/stoned-cornered-knifed-witness-recalls-gang-killed-disabled-man/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-07-18

[Cadbury]

Is this the incident of one disabled man outside a bakery versus a gang of thugs who mainly were sons of police officers?

If it is then great to hear that they haven't been bought off (so far) and stand a likely chance of getting their deserved punishment. The girl who was the cheerleader also deserves jail time.

[darksidedog]

The defence are trying to claim the victim was high on Yaba. Personally I don't care what he may or may not have been on. It is no justification for a gang of able bodied men to assault and kill a cripple. They are a bunch of animals, thinking their fathers positions would protect them from a heinous and brutal attack. A clear message needs to be sent out from this senseless and tragic assault. No one is above the law and if those who are found guilty need to die to ensure that message is understood, so be it.

[ben2talk]

40 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

The defence are trying to claim the victim was high on Yaba. Personally I don't care what he may or may not have been on. It is no justification for a gang of able bodied men to assault and kill a cripple. They are a bunch of animals, thinking their fathers positions would protect them from a heinous and brutal attack. A clear message needs to be sent out from this senseless and tragic assault. No one is above the law and if those who are found guilty need to die to ensure that message is understood, so be it.

I don't like this 'disabled' and 'cripple' tag being weilded. It's a bit like someone getting hit and we must reveal the victim is a woman before we can gain any special sympathy.

 

They are humans. Three men decided to attack another. The other tried some defence, obviously without the necessary ability to succeed, and was murdered. The whole mob are equally guilty.

 

I think the worst part of the story is my idea that it's apparently unfortunate that the police connections have been publicised. Obviously this story means that the rather insignificant breadman murder is not allowed to be swept under the carpet.

 

More to the point it highlights the likelihood that for any one case you read about here, there could well be another 5 cases successfully buried. Justice needs to extend beyond the obvious culprits here... Perverting the course of justice is the more worrying crime.

Edited July 18, 2017 by ben2talk

[gandalf12]

1 hour ago, Cadbury said:

Is this the incident of one disabled man outside a bakery versus a gang of thugs who mainly were sons of police officers?

If it is then great to hear that they haven't been bought off (so far) and stand a likely chance of getting their deserved punishment. The girl who was the cheerleader also deserves jail time.

This was really premeditated murder. That carries the death penalty and that is what they deserve.

[phantomfiddler]

Very good to see that this case has not (yet) been swept under the carpet. A totally despicable murder by people who thought they can get away with anything because daddy is a policeman. Hopefully they will receive the maximum sentence !

[salavan]

12 hours ago, darksidedog said:

The defence are trying to claim the victim was high on Yaba. Personally I don't care what he may or may not have been on. It is no justification for a gang of able bodied men to assault and kill a cripple. They are a bunch of animals, thinking their fathers positions would protect them from a heinous and brutal attack. A clear message needs to be sent out from this senseless and tragic assault. No one is above the law and if those who are found guilty need to die to ensure that message is understood, so be it.

Their fathers position will most likely protect them

[williamgeorgeallen]

41 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

Very good to see that this case has not (yet) been swept under the carpet. A totally despicable murder by people who thought they can get away with anything because daddy is a policeman. Hopefully they will receive the maximum sentence !

but it is being delayed probably by payments or meddling by well connected parents. these guys should be locked up by now if the justice system was any good.  its already over a year and how far has the case gone. great that the witness is testifying in court, he has big balls.

[halloween]

12 minutes ago, salavan said:

Their fathers position will most likely protect them

Their case has been handed to the courts, they are charged with murder and with witnesses, will likely be found guilty. Where's the protection?

[halloween]

2 hours ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

but it is being delayed probably by payments or meddling by well connected parents. these guys should be locked up by now if the justice system was any good.  its already over a year and how far has the case gone. great that the witness is testifying in court, he has big balls.

Your joking, right? The court system here is slow, clogged by the number of cases, that's why they have set up special courts for people trafficking and political office holders. I can't recall any cases that have gone much faster, and many that are far slower.

[dunroaming]

5 hours ago, halloween said:

Their case has been handed to the courts, they are charged with murder and with witnesses, will likely be found guilty. Where's the protection?

They may well get sentenced to time in prison but in the land of smoke and mirrors they also may get spirited away afterwards to a new life and identity.  Not uncommon when involving "connected" people.

[lvr181]

18 hours ago, darksidedog said:

The defence are trying to claim the victim was high on Yaba. Personally I don't care what he may or may not have been on. It is no justification for a gang of able bodied men to assault and kill a cripple. They are a bunch of animals, thinking their fathers positions would protect them from a heinous and brutal attack. A clear message needs to be sent out from this senseless and tragic assault. No one is above the law and if those who are found guilty need to die to ensure that message is understood, so be it.

"...Ananchai, a lawyer by trade..." Now there is a clue! In most modern western societies a lawyer (by qualification) is a professional! 

 

Lord ChiefJustice Hewart in 1924, said: “It is not merely of some importance, but of fundamental importance that justice should not only be done, but should be manifestly and undoubtedly seen to be done”.

And should be done swiftly? 

 

And while the PM refuses to recognise their 'legal system' is in disarray then unfortunately nothing will improve anytime soon. A double tier justice system is a corrupt system! These clowns should have been dealt with already and their lives terminated - no excuses, no sorry, no reductions to the death penalty and no hiding behind orange robes either.

[JonnyF]

I'd imagine this will go the same as Jenphop. Plead guilty, receive a very light sentence, appeal the light sentence, out on bail never to be heard of again.

 

[Dave67]

Animals

[jaywalker]

On 7/18/2017 at 10:07 AM, ben2talk said:

I don't like this 'disabled' and 'cripple' tag being weilded. It's a bit like someone getting hit and we must reveal the victim is a woman before we can gain any special sympathy.

 

They are humans. Three men decided to attack another. The other tried some defence, obviously without the necessary ability to succeed, and was murdered. The whole mob are equally guilty.

 

I think the worst part of the story is my idea that it's apparently unfortunate that the police connections have been publicised. Obviously this story means that the rather insignificant breadman murder is not allowed to be swept under the carpet.

 

More to the point it highlights the likelihood that for any one case you read about here, there could well be another 5 cases successfully buried. Justice needs to extend beyond the obvious culprits here... Perverting the course of justice is the more worrying crime.

Some countries do have special sentences for attacking (err... killing in the case) a disabled or elderly person.

 

Not sure if that's the case in Thailand, but if so, would make it relevant.

[ben2talk]

4 hours ago, jaywalker said:

Some countries do have special sentences for attacking (err... killing in the case) a disabled or elderly person.

 

Not sure if that's the case in Thailand, but if so, would make it relevant.

Explain now what the difference between murdering a 'healthy' man, a 'disabled' man, an 'elderly' man or maybe some 'black' or 'jewish' man?

[YetAnother]

On 7/18/2017 at 8:37 PM, darksidedog said:

The defence are trying to claim the victim was high on Yaba. Personally I don't care what he may or may not have been on. It is no justification for a gang of able bodied men to assault and kill a cripple. They are a bunch of animals, thinking their fathers positions would protect them from a heinous and brutal attack. A clear message needs to be sent out from this senseless and tragic assault. No one is above the law and if those who are found guilty need to die to ensure that message is understood, so be it.

Violence seems to be at an all time high in Thailand

[YetAnother]

"The defence are trying to claim the victim was high on Yaba. "

 

Either that is a group of remarkably inept defense lawyers or they are counting on the stupidity and inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the Thai justice system

[YetAnother]

"And while the PM refuses to recognise their 'legal system' is in disarray then unfortunately nothing will improve anytime soon"

Agreed, but I don't think the PM actually recognizes it....

[jaywalker]

4 hours ago, ben2talk said:

Explain now what the difference between murdering a 'healthy' man, a 'disabled' man, an 'elderly' man or maybe some 'black' or 'jewish' man?

Assault on the elderly & disabled ranks right in there with children as they are defenseless and it makes the crime especially heinous.

 

I never said a word about race.

 

Also I was referring to assault, not murder.

 

 

Edited July 20, 2017 by jaywalker

[sandemara]

Justice delayed is justice denied.  Money and privilege seem to trump justice regularly in Thailand. 

In despair at times, I muse that Thailand is as much a crippled nation as that long-dead crippled man.  The problem for Thailand, of course, is to make certain those wielding the knives in their carve-up of this abused nation are properly identified and that all those in the crazed mob are eventually forced to face justice.

I  think many good people could empathise with the frustration and fears expressed by the witness..