Top court acquits killer's brothers
THE Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to dismiss charges against three members of the Hinkaew family of involvement in the murder of environmental activist Charoen Wat-aksorn - a high-profile slaying in the South that occurred in 2004.
The court said the evidence against Thanu Hinkaew, Manote Hinkaew and Juea Hinkaew – the third, fourth and fifth defendants in the case – was too weak to say they were connected to the contract killing, so the judges affirmed an early ruling by the Appeal Court.
Charoen was the leader in protests against the Bo Nok and Hin Krud coal-fired power plant project proposed by Gulf Electric Co in Prachuap Khiri Khan. He was shot dead by Saneh Lekluan and Prachuab Hinkaew, the first and second defendants in the case, in June 2004.
Both of the gunmen said Thanu had plotted the murder with them and that after killing Charoen the gunmen called Manote, while the gun used for the murder belonged to Juea. The gunmen said they were supporters of the coal-fired power plant project, and thus rivals with Charoen, who led the opposition campaign.
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