CHANTHABURI: A retired senior policeman shot dead the plaintiff and his lawyer before being fatally shot by an on-duty police officer in a Chanthaburi courtroom on Tuesday morning.
He also wounded two other people who accompanied the slain plaintiff into the court.
Pol Maj Gen Thanin Chantratip, 67, was a defendant in a 10-year-long civil lawsuit concerning blocks of land in Tha Mai district.
He was in court waiting to hear a ruling in the case when plaintiff Bancha Porameekhanaporn arrived with his wife and two lawyers about 9.15am.
Media reported that the two sides began arguing and Pol Maj Gen Thanin drew his gun and fired at Bancha and other members of his party.
Bancha and lawyer Wijai Sukharom died later at Prapokklao Hospital. Bancha was a lawyer for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra during her rice-pledging scheme case. Bancha's wife Supaporn and another lawyer, Wichai Udomthanapat, were wounded.
Thanin was in turn shot by an on-duty police officer and severely wounded. He later died.
