Inquiry into shooting of Reuters cameraman opens
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The first court inquiry into the death of a Reuters cameraman shot and killed during a violent red-shirt protest in Bangkok two years ago began yesterday, after his relatives insisted on trying to find out who shot him and whether it was an accident - or
A brother of victim Hiroyuki Muramoto was the first to testify yesterday. Some 82 others are also due to give statements.
Yusuke Muramoto told the court little more than what has already been made public about the case. His brother died filming a clash between red shirts and troops on April 10, 2010 at Khok Wua intersection in Banglamphu.
Yusuke told the court that Reuters did not know who shot his brother. He said he was unaware of a bullet trajectory study into the case, nor the size of the bullets and calibre of the weapon involved.
This is the first time the judiciary has sought to try to resolve questions about the death of Hiroyuki Muramoto. It has occurred because Bangkok South Criminal Court decided to hear complaints from the victim’s relatives, as the police inquiry has suffered delays.
The case is one of many in which government officials are suspected of involvement, although the police’s trajectory study has not determined whether the cameraman was shot by accident –a “stray” bullet during the clash, or was intentionally killed.
A lawyer for the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), the group which organised the red-shirt protest, Jessada Jandee, said he had submitted names of 24 witnesses for the hearing, while state prosecutors have 59 on their list.
The next hearing is scheduled on July 31 at 9am.
