Court rules 8 years in prison for Thai man who dumped model’s body in Bangkok condo lobby

Thailand‘s Court of Appeal upholds an eight-year prison sentence for a man convicted of abducting an unconscious woman and dumping her dead body in the lobby of his condo in Bangkok over three years ago.

In September 2019, models Rachadech “Nam Un” Wongtabutr and Thitima “Lalabelle” Noraphanphiphat were both hired to provide entertainment at a house party in Bang Bua Thong district of Nontha Buri province, just northwest of Bangkok.

After a day of heavy drinking, CCTV footage captured Rachadech carrying unconscious Lalabelle out of the party and into his car just after 5pm. Drunk, he drove back to his condo in Bangkok’s Thonburi district.

Lalabelle’s smartwatch revealed the exact moment her heart stopped beating at 6.03pm. An autopsy identified her cause of death as alcohol poisoning.

CCTV captured Rachadech dragging 25 year old Lalabelle up to his sixth-floor condo room. Hours later, he carried her back downstairs and dumped her lifeless body on a sofa in the lobby.

Lalabelle’s dead body was discovered by her friends who came to pick her up the next morning.

In 2020, Rachadech was found guilty of unlawful detention leading to the death of the detained person and sentenced to eight years in prison.

Five other defendants in the case, who attended the party, were also convicted of colluding with Rachadech’s plan by the lower court in 2020.

Yesterday, the court upheld the convictions of three defendants: the 30 year old host of the party, Chaiyaphon Panna, his 25 year old girlfriend Phikulthong Boonpha, and his 34 year old brother Phikulthong Boonpha.

Chaiyaphon, Phikulthong, and Phikulthong face five years and four years for conspiring with Rachadech.

The Court of Appeal overturned the convictions of two defendants yesterday, 28 year old Kritsada Lohitdi and 36 year old Koset Ritnithiroek, who were guests at the party. The court ruled that they were unaware of how Lulabelle left the event that night.

Despite being convicted of a heinous crime, Rachadech has been a free man since being released on bail in October 2020 to appeal his conviction.

Since then, Rachadech has been documenting his lavish Bangkok lifestyle on social media, posting photos of sports cars, piles of money and his six-pack.