Woman 'confesses' to role in murder of Olympic sharpshooter Jakkrit
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Says she tried to help slain marksman's mother -in-law with ' abusive' son-in-law
A WOMAN office worker was arrested after she was accused of initiating the high-profile murder of Olympics sharpshooter Jakkrit Panitpatikam last month.
Worraphanphooree Montreeareekul was implicated by the alleged gunman, Jirasak Klinkhlai, police told a press conference yesterday.
Her confession was very useful and could lead to securing an arrest warrant for Dr Nithiwadee Phooyoscharoen, the wife of Jakkrit, said Pol Lt-General Camronvit Toopkrajank, Metropolitan Police chief and lead investigator.
Under interrogation, Worraphanphooree reportedly told police that she had been a customer for seven years at a beauty clinic where the doctor worked.
The doctor’s mother, Surang Duangjinda, reportedly told her about how the son-in-law constantly abused his wife and that she sympathised with the mother.
She introduced her to a lawyer, Santi Thongsame, as the middleman who later brought in the hitman. The mother later paid Bt600,000 to the lawyer on July 29 and Bt600,000 in late September to have Jakkrit killed. The lawyer has disappeared, and Jakkrit was shot dead on October 19 while driving his car.
Worraphanphooree, the lawyer and the mother met at Serirak Hospital where the wife was recuperating after a miscarriage, and “silently” discussed the murder plan.
The wife was resting on the bed and knew nothing about the plot. The wife only learned during the funeral that her mother had got her husband killed, Worraphanphooree said, and added that the wife never complained about her husband, because she was a nice woman who cared about her family.
Worraphanphooree said she learned about all the domestic abuse from Jakkrit’s wife’s mother.
Manop, the victim’s father, said after the press conference that his son was now resting in peace but the people who had Jakkrit slain were going to hell.
He would like custody of Jakkrit’s children but it would be difficult for him to raise them because they were attending an expensive international school.
Police have not yet charged Worraphanphooree.
They are compiling more evidence against the mother and the widow to issue arrest warrants against them.
