Teen’s killer loses bid to avoid death
KALASIN: The Appeal Court yesterday upheld the death sentence handed down to a former village chief for the rape and murder of an 18-year-old student in 2015.
Krittidech Rawengwan, 36, former chief of Ban Si Than village in Kalamalai district, was condemned to death by the Kalasin provincial court in March last year after he was found guilty of raping and killing Ruadeewan Polprasit on Dec 23, 2015.
The lower court also ordered him pay 2.3 million baht, plus interest, in compensation to the victim’s family.
The family said they were delighted with the ruling. The teenage victim’s mother, Lamyai Polprasit, thanked the court for providing justice for her daughter and people across the country for their moral support.
Ms Lamyai said Krittidech deserved the death sentence and was satisfied with the judgement. She said the strain she has felt since the loss of her daughter had eased greatly as a result of the Appeal Court ruling.
Ruadeewan, or “Nong Snow” was heading home from school when Krittidech attacked and dragged her into a rice field on the side of the Ban Si Than-Ban Nong Muang road on Dec 23, 2015.
She fought back but was unable to prevent him from raping her, according to investigators.
She was severely beaten during the attack and later died from her injuries. According to the autopsy report, Ruadeewan died after suffering a ruptured liver.
Krittidech was arrested on April 4, 2016 and brought to court on June 4 of that year.
Pattranit Polprasit, 31, the elder sister of the victim, said she was also satisfied with the Appeal Court ruling.
Her innocent sister will not have died unavenged, she said, adding that murderers must face the consequences of their actions. She wanted her sister to know her family had fought for justice for her and that it was now being served.