‘Popcorn gunman’ gets 37 years in prison
The Criminal Court yesterday sentenced the so-called “popcorn gunman”, who opposed the aborted February 2014 general election, to 37 years and four months in jail.
He faced charges for murder and illegally possessing an assault weapon and ammunition used in a deadly clash between supporters and opponents of the poll, leading to the military coup three months later.
The sentence for Vivat Yodprasit, 25, was reduced from the original life imprisonment due to his confession during the police investigation, the court said.
The three-judge panel spent 40 minutes detailing evidence gathered by police, testimonies of Vivat’s two brothers and his own TV interview admitting he was the “popcorn gunman”, who wore a mask and had concealed an assault rifle inside a popcorn sack and fired multiple rounds during a gun battle between supporters and opponents of then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Laksi intersection on Feb 1, 2014. The bullets wounded A-Kaew Sae Liew, a bystander who died seven months later, and three other people, the court said.
Vivat was a member of the anti-election camp led by Phra Buddha Isara that was trying to prevent officials from gaining access to Laksi district venues to prepare for the Feb 2 poll.
The anti-election group, joined by allies from a Lat Phrao rally site, moved along Chaeng Watthana Road towards IT Mall, said the verdict.
A team member urged his men through a megaphone to aim their guns and shoot at “whoever pops up”, the court said.
“Such actions showed the intention to kill the opposite side. Although prosecutors did not summon the injured to the court proceedings, the autopsy and medical reports as well as the video clips are adequate to determine that the defendant was collaborating with [21] others [who are on the run] in causing death and serious injuries to others,” the court said.
Vivat’s lawyer said Vivat was assaulted by police and forced to confess. He said Vivat was blindfolded, tied down and beaten several times while travelling in the back of a van to Bangkok. Police denied the allegations. His lawyer and father said they would appeal.