Cops await autopsy result in karaoke bar girl murder
KHON KAEN: Investigators are waiting for the autopsy report in the brutal murder of a karaoke bar girl and plan to forward the case to state prosecutors next month, a senior police officer said yesterday.
Pol Col Pakphoum Pissamai, the Khao Suan Kwang police station chief, said he expected the investigation to be wrapped up early next month, when the police would be ready to submit all case documents to prosecutors in Khon Kaen.
Police interrogated more than 40 witnesses, and the only other evidence needed to support the allegations against the five suspects is the autopsy result, he added.
Four female suspects — Preeyanuch Nonwangchai, Kawita Ratchada, Apiwan Sattayabundit and Jindarat Promkhun — and one male suspect, Wasin Namprom, have been charged with collaborating in premeditated murder, concealing a body and theft.
They allegedly killed Warisara Klinjun, dismembered her body and buried it in Khao Suan Kwang district in Khon Kaen province in May. A personal feud between Warisara and Ms Preeyanuch and an unpaid debt to Ms Preeyanuch were the motives behind the murder, police said.
Police believe that Ms Preeyanuch is a gang leader who killed Warisara, and the others are her accomplices.
Ms Preeyanuch has said she did not intend to kill Warisara.
She fled to Tachilek town in Myanmar from Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai province with Miss Kawita and Miss Apiwan. The trio were arrested by Myanmar authorities and handed over to Thai police last month.
Mr Wasin escaped to Laos through Nong Khai province and was arrested by Lao authorities in May, while his girlfriend, Ms Jindarat, was captured in Ubon Ratchathani province the same month.
The women are detained at the provincial prison and Mr Wasin is jailed at the Correctional Institution for Drug Addicts, both in Khon Kaen.