FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Man charged with murder of wealthy ex-wife

Man charged with murder of wealthy ex-wife

POLICE YESTERDAY laid four charges against the ex-husband of a businesswoman whose incinerated remains were discovered on Friday in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district despite his continued protests of innocence.

Krissada Maikhao, 49, was charged with the premeditated murder of his ex-wife, wealthy businesswoman Pinyada Paenchan, 48. He was also charged with tampering with the victim’s body to conceal the crime, hiding or destroying body parts to conceal the death and the cause of death, and theft, said deputy national police chief Pol General Weerachai Songmetta at a press conference yesterday.
Despite his claim of innocence, police had sufficient witnesses and solid forensic evidence to prosecute Krissada, said Weerachai.
Concerned that he would tamper with witnesses or evidence, police will also object to Krissada being given bail release when they apply for a court order for his first 12-day detention, Weerachai added.
The motive behind the killing and how it happened remain unknown, as Krissada has refused to testify to police, Weerachai said. The crime scene investigation found that the victim had lost a lot of blood, possibly from assault, he added. 
Police are mulling several possible motives for the killing, including an argument or robbery, he said.

Man charged with murder of wealthy ex-wife
Wanted on an arrest warrant, Krissada turned himself in to police at 8pm on Sunday and was interrogated in the presence of Pol General Weerachai. Pinyada’s charred and smashed bones were found scattered in an abandoned rice field in Hat Yai. 
Her family told police she’d been missing from her house in Muang district since the night of May 23, along with her Mercedes-Benz. 
Weerachai on Sunday said a search of the victim’s house turned up a motorbike part that could be matched to a motorcycle spare tyre found at the crime scene.

Man charged with murder of wealthy ex-wife
Pinyada’s Mercedes-Benz, two pickup trucks and a high-powered motorcycle were missing from the property, suggesting that more than one person was involved in the murder. 
The victim’s relatives confirmed that the burned body parts were Pinyada’s. 

Man charged with murder of wealthy ex-wife
Neighbours told police they had heard Pinyada and Krissada, who reportedly continued to live at Pinyada’s house even after their divorce, arguing on the night of May 23 and saw Krissada washing her Mercedes-Benz around 4 or 5am the next morning.
In a related development, police yesterday afternoon retrieved the vehicle from the house of one of Krissada’s relatives in nearby Singha Nakhon district. 
Both the front and rear licence plates had been removed from the car.

Man charged with murder of wealthy ex-wife
Police alleged that the car was used to transport the victim’s body from her house in Muang district to the disposal site at the Hat Yai rice field, a distance of 15 kilometres.
The victim was reportedly highly possessive of her car and would not even allow Krissada to drive it.

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