Six handed prison terms over pretty’s booze death

The Thon Buri Criminal Court yesterday handed prison terms to a product presenter and five other people over the death of Thitima Noraphanphiphat, 26, aka Lunlabelle, in Bang Bua Thong district, Nonthaburi province, in September last year.

Rachadech “Nam Oun” Wongthabut, 27, was found guilty of illegal assembly and unlawfully detaining Thitima for purposes of sexual abuse and forcefully depriving her of her freedom, leading to her death.

The other five defendants were Chaipol Phanna, 30; Natee Sathitpongsathaporn, 34; Pikulthong Boonpa, 25, who was Chaipol’s girlfriend; Krisda Lohitdee, 28; and Koses Ritnithirerk, 36. They were found guilty of conspiring with Rachadech to sexually abuse Thitima, leading to her death.

Thitima worked as a product presenter, also known as a “pretty”.

On Sept 16, last year, the six defendants organised a party at a house in Prueksa 3 Housing Estate in tambon Bang Khu Rat, Bang Bua Thong district.

They hired Thitima, 26, paying her 3,500 baht to serve them drinks and party with the group. During the party, Thitima was encouraged to drink until she lost consciousness.

Rachadech then decided to take Thitima back to his condominium in Dao Khanong, Thon Buri district, where she was found dead in the lobby by a security guard the next day.

Thirty prosecution witnesses and six defence witnesses were called during the trial. Rachadech was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and the five others to five years and four months in jail each.

The defendants were also ordered to pay compensation of 748,660 baht to Thitima’s mother.

After hearing the judgement, the six were released on bail.