Two more arrested for noodle vendor's death
The Nation January 30, 2015 1:00 am
Police have arrested two more youngsters for allegedly having a hand in the murder of noodle vendor Kornnat Purensopa in Nakhon Pathom's Nakhon Chaisri district last week.
The suspects - Yutthana Somboon and Thawat Kaew-ngam - were presented to the press yesterday along with a pistol, seven bullets, one ping pong bomb, three spent cartridges and a bullet slug recovered from the scene. Police also arrested 16 accomplices, all of whom are minors.
National police chief Pol General Somyos Pumpanmuang said investigation and witness testimonies showed that a gun battle ensued between a group led by the victim's son and the suspects, which resulted in the vendor being fatally hit by a stray bullet.
Police said Yutthana confessed to the crime, claiming that Kornnat's son's gang opened fire first and that Thawat shot back in self-defence. The suspects claim they had no intention of killing the victim. The suspects face charges of murder, have a gun in their possession and carrying it to a public place without permission.
Meanwhile, Provincial Police Region 7 chief Pol Lt-General Weerapong Cheunpakdee yesterday transferred Nakhon Chaisri Police Station chief Pol Colonel Theeradet Apipakkul following reports of this case moving slowly.
