The widow of a man who committed suicide after his son's accused murderer was found not guilty by the Criminal Court formally submitted the case to the Appeal Court on Friday.
Rewadee Talhasuntorn and public prosecutors, the joint plaintiffs, officially filed the appeal two days after a meeting at the Office of the Attorney-General where she requested assistance in getting access to the police case report.
Her goal is to convince the Appeal Court to add a new witness, Peerawit Puttajinarak, and hear his testimony.
Mr Peerawit did not appear as a witness when the matter was in the Criminal Court because he claimed he was mentally ill, and presented a health certificate as proof.
Mr Peerawit was believed to be the only witness when Ms Rewadee's son, Thanit, was stabbed to death on April 15, 2016 in Din Daeng district. Nattapong Ngoenkhiri was accused of the murder, but found not guilty by the Criminal Court on July 23 this year on the grounds the prosecution case was too weak.
Ms Rewadee's husband Supachai was so upset by the judgement that he committed suicide at the Criminal Court shortly after leaving the courtroom.
The mental illness claim by Mr Peerawit came into question when he was arrested in October by police in Prawet district for robbery. Ms Rewadee and her lawyers have said the arrest could be seen as proof that he was not mentally ill at all.
Anantachai Chaidet, one of her lawyers, expressed confidence the court would rule in their favour and his client would finally get justice, whether or not Mr Peerawit is summonsed as a witness.
After formally filing the appeal, Ms Rewadee went to the spot where her husband jumped from a window at the court building.
"I have appealed the case for you and our son," she said in tears. "I want you to know that I won't give up."
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