Seven youths plead not guilty to murder

The Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court scheduled the next hearing on December 19 and allowed the victim’s mother to act as a co-plaintiff.

The judge was scheduled to go over evidence for the case in which the public prosecutor sought the indictment of Peerapol Yospong-anan, 21, Akaradech Thassana, 22, and Monmanas Saengpho, 21, along with four teenage friends for the murder of Somkiat Srijan, 35, in the Chok Chai Soi 4 area.

Somkiat’s mother Thongkham along with 10 relatives and their attorney Anantachai Chaidech attended yesterday’s hearing. 

The seven defendants – six men and one woman – were escorted from Bangkok Remand Prison and the Central Women Correctional Institution to the arraignment. 

The court briefly explained the charges against them of murder, intrusion to the bread shop to assault the victim and carrying knives in the city area without a good reason.

Defence attorney Khomphetch Janpoom asked the court’s permission to review the facts in the case with his clients and postpone the evidence examination to the next hearing.

Anantachai said that, since the defendants denied committing the alleged crimes, the judge |gave them the chance to reconsider because any of the victim’s 10 wounds could have been fatal. 

Since it would also be hard for them to claim to have acted impulsively or in self-defence, if the defendants confessed, they could get lighter sentences because of their young age, he said. 

According to Anatachai the victim’s family wants the suspects to show remorse, apologise and atone for the loss and suffering of the family, such as by paying Bt2 million in compensation.