Buri Ram: A manhunt is under way for a 35-year-old man who gunned down his wife and father-in-law outside their house in Nang Rong district Friday.
Police were alerted to the shooting at the house in Ban Nong Makha in tambon Sadao, where the two people were found dead. They were identified as Oranee Yodsawang, 25, and her 56-year-old father Samnao Yodsawang.
According to police, Oranee's younger brother identified the killer as her husband, Sommai Asakul. They were married only about a month ago.
The brother told police he saw Mr Sommai returning home and having a talk with Oranee in front of the house. He said his sister and brother-in-law had a bitter quarrel with Oranee being heard saying she would break up with Mr Sommai.
Upon hearing the row, Mr Samnao came out of the house and tried to calm the couple down. But Mr Sommai drew a .38 handgun and shot his wife and father-in-law before fleeing, the brother told police.
Relatives of the victims said the killer was unhappy with his wife who refused to sleep with him despite them having been married for about a month. Mr Sommai believed he was being cheated by his wife, who he thought married him for his wedding dowry, according to the relatives.
The relatives said Mr Sommai worked in another province and he was seen to have tried on several occasions to patch things up with his wife but to no avail. Every time he came home, he would argue with his wife, they said.
The relatives expressed disbelief that Mr Sommai resorted to killing his wife and her father.
Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt to find Mr Sommai, who is believed to still be in the neighbourhood. His family was also contacted by police who appealed to the suspect to turn himself in.
