The Criminal Court has imposed life sentences on two suspects involved in a dormitory raid in Phetchaburi last year, convicting the pair of killing a Silpakorn University student with a screwdriver even though he had nothing to do with the brawl.
The judge ruled yesterday that the two men and 11 other suspects did not leave the dormitory after failing to find another male student they were searching for. However they "aggressively assaulted" the victim and two of his friends. The other 11 got jail terms of at least one year.
Teerapong Thitathan, known by his nickname "Pond," was a fourth-year student at the university's Phetchaburi campus. The court said he would likely have served as the family breadwinner were it not for his murder.
Pond was found convulsing after being struck in the head by a screwdriver. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his wounds.
The two convicted murderers were identified as Kornkanok Waranyasathit, 23, and Dechathorn Munmanee, 21, who were also found guilty of the dorm raid.
As Dechathorn confessed his sentence was halved to 25 years and six months.
Kornkanok requested he be released on bail but this must be decided by an appellate court. Dechathorn made no such request.
The other 11 male suspects, including Private 1st Class Charinthorn Kaensan, 21, were sentenced to between one and 11 years in jail on charges of raiding a building without permission and assaulting others.
They were ordered to pay more than 7.2 million baht in compensation to the victims, their relatives, and the owner of the dorm. They were granted bail with 700,000 baht surety.
The only suspect acquitted was Marisa Ngeonthong as she was in a car during the incident. The 21-year-old was not deemed to have raided the dorm as she lives in a room nearby where the victim lived.
According to the ruling, the 14 suspects quarreled with a man identified as "Off", a friend of Pond's, during a concert late on Feb 25, 2017.
The group drove to the dorm in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district where Off was staying. They mistakenly thought he lived in room No.13, whereas the occupants were Pond and two friends, Siwarak Nakho and Thanaphon Phutma, the court said.
Their search failed but instead of leaving the venue, a number of them assaulted the three victims.
According to police, Mr Siwarak was struck on the head with a bottle and suffered cuts to his arm while Mr Thanaphon was attacked with a screwdriver, wounding his face.
Pond was held in place by Kornkanok before Dechathorn stabbed him in the head. The attackers left when the dorm owner arrived.
The court used security camera footage from inside and outside the dormitory compound as well as the testimonies of Pond's friends and other witnesses in deciding the ruling.
The judge sentenced four suspects -- Yannawat Thipthiangthae, 20, Rewat Wongkhayai, 21, Krittanan Niamngoen, 21, and Supphasit Dithuam, 21 -- each to 10 years in jail for physical assault. Four others got six months each.
