Death sentence for man who had his family killed

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Bangkok’s Thon Buri Criminal Court yesterday handed down the death sentence to 23-year-old Kittinan Homchong, after finding him guilty of hiring killers to murder his parents and older brother in 2014.

His four accomplices – 23-year-old Sakkarin Phanthakul, 53-year-old Chalard Thiangtham, 48-year-old Surapong Chupha and 43-year-old Sirichai Permpoonsak – were given life sentences due to their useful confessions.

Kittinan and Sakkarin hired Chalard, Surapong and Sirichai to kill Kittinan’s retired army officer father Colonel Vichai Homchong, 63, his schoolteacher mother, Vanida, 57, and his elder sibling Pol Lieutenant Thammanat Homchong, 24, at their home in Bangkok’s Bang Khae district.

The three men also stole Bt53,000 from Thammanat and the court ordered them to return the money to Thammanat’s heir.

Kittinan has maintained his innocence.

— Phuket Gazette Editors