Amulet deal a possible motive for Jakkrit killing
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Former Olympic shooter Jakkrit Panichpatikum was killed in a drive-by shooting on Saturday night by unknown assailants while on his way to pick up his wife and children for dinner.
His friends suspect the attack might have something to do with a deal involving an expensive amulet that might have gone wrong.
“About one or two weeks ago, he told me about the sale and he was clearly fuming. But I don’t know the details. It’ll be the police’s job to investigate,” Songwut Wuttikarnkoson said yesterday.
He and some other bikers had joined the funeral procession to Phra Sri Mahathat Temple in Bang Khen district.
Jakkrit’s mother Boonkid had tearfully picked up her son’s remains from the Institute of Forensic Medicine in the afternoon.
His children, just four and one year old, were still in the dark about his death.
“We just told them that their father is ill and in the hospital,” she said.
Born in 1973, Jakkrit represented Thailand at many international tournaments including the 2012 London Olympics.
Earlier this year, his wife and mother complained about domestic violence to Social Development and Human Security Minister Paveena Hongsakul, but soon showed signs of reconciliation by offering him an apology.
Jakkrit’s father Manop said a fortune-teller told him recently that his son would either die or go to jail.
“The prediction proved accurate,” he said.
