Last month, police were called in to investigate two high profile cases of spousal murder which captured the headlines.
In both cases, police were simply able to use CCTV footage to find and arrest suspects.
However, for police, the real challenge is in ensuring such crimes don't happen in the first place, and that domestic incidents do not escalate to a critical point.
Unfortunately, the spouses in these two cases believed that murder was the only way to solve their family problems.
Contact Crime Track: crimetrack@bangkokpost.co.th.
The first incident occurred on Feb 8 when Thawatchai Suksangkhan, 63, was shot dead while driving his wife to work in Nakhonluang Udomratwitthaya in Ayutthaya's Nakhon Luang district.
His wife, Praphatson Thoprayun, a 62-year-old school food supplier, was reported to have burst into tears at the scene; her grief initially convincing police that her allegations that Thawatchai was killed as a result of a business dispute might be true.
However, a check of footage from security cameras in the area led to the arrest of the gunman -- the pillion rider of a motorcycle that had waited for Thawatchai's arrival near the school.
Thawatchai stopped his car in front of the school to allow his wife to open the gate. As soon as she got out, the motorcycle approached the car and the fatal shots were fired.
The gunman, identified as Montri Chomthanom, 28, told police he was hired by Ms Praphatson to kill Thawatchai.
Investigators later found that the widow had asked her son-in-law, Sarawut Songchom, to find her a gunman.
"She said she had often quarrelled with her husband and been threatened by him over the past 20 years," deputy national police chief Chaloemkiat Siworakhan said.
In the second case, 35-year-old Itsada Usaphian was gunned down at their home on Soi Pracha Uthit 86 of Bangkok's Thung Kru district. Her body was then buried in the house's compound and found by police on Feb 24.
Her husband, Nop Sophonwasu, 36, turned himself in four days later and confessed to killing his wife.
"I'm very sorry for what I did because I love my wife so much," Mr Nop said.
According to investigators, the couple, who worked as house brokers, were being treated for depression.
Police later charged Mr Nop with premeditated murder and hiding his wife's body.
Quarrels and jealousy were the main reasons he blamed for his decision to kill his wife, Metropolitan Police Division 8's deputy chief Manop Phochuai said.
"Many of these incidents could be prevented if the victims of domestic violence were made aware of the legal protection they are entitled to," Wuttichai Phumsanguan, a provincial public prosecutor attached to the Office of the Attorney-General, told the Bangkok Post.
The law he mentioned is the 2007 Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Act, which was enacted to make it easier for individuals to report threats, assaults and other forms of violent acts.
One of the key goals of the law is to encourage rehabilitation over punishment to "change the behaviour of family members", Mr Wuttichai said, adding the law encourages voluntary counselling and visits to psychological services before more severe action is taken.
"The court can also issue restraining orders against perpetrators of domestic violence in order to maintain a safe space for the victim, Mr Wuttichai said.
"However, not many people know about this law which has been in place over a decade," he added.
Most domestic violence cases end up falling under criminal law after problems have already escalated to a more critical level, according to Mr Wuttichai.
He said the justice ministry is launching public campaign to promote this law "help to curb similar bloody domestic tragedies".
Contact Crime Track: crimetrack@bangkokpost.co.th
