Thai man fatally stabs grocery store owner for refusing alcohol on credit

Suspect confesses after CCTV exposes crime scene escape

Police arrested a former security guard for fatally stabbing an elderly grocery store owner in Samut Prakan province near Bangkok after she refused to let him take alcohol on credit.

A customer stumbled upon the crime scene while visiting the grocery store in Soi Jong Siri, Bang Pli district, Samut Prakan, yesterday, September 1. The 73 year old owner, Boonnam Saengmanee, was found lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds across her body.

The customer immediately alerted officers from Bang Pli Police Station. Officers reported that Boonnam sustained 13 stab wounds, and a kitchen knife used in the fatal attack was found near her body.

Security camera footage from outside the grocery store showed a man suspiciously leaving Boonnam’s shop. Shortly afterwards, another customer entered and ran out in shock upon discovering the victim.

Boonnam’s granddaughter, 47 year old Chanita Lertamornchok, told 77 Kaoded news agency that she checked the store’s valuables and found 2,000 baht in cash missing. She believed the assailant killed her grandmother to steal the money.

Elderly stoer owner stabbed to death by ex-security guard
Photo via 77 Kaoded

Investigators identified the suspect as 57 year old Napakorn Yangnok, a former community security guard. Police questioned him at his home, but Napakorn initially denied involvement.

Officers, unconvinced, took him to the police station for further questioning. Though he continued to deny the accusations, he eventually confessed when confronted with the evidence.

Thai man stabs elderly grocery store owner in Samut Prakan
Photo via 77 Kaoded

Napakorn told police he had visited the shop twice that day to buy alcohol. He asked to take the liquor on credit, but Boonnam refused, saying he had not yet paid for a previous order.

Napakorn insisted he had already settled his debts, which led to a heated argument. He left the shop and returned with a knife, stabbing Boonnam repeatedly when her back was turned. He claimed he could not remember how many times he stabbed her.

Alcohol addiction leads to fatal stabbing at Samut Prakan grocery store
Photo via 77 Kaoded

After the attack, Napakorn admitted to taking two bottles of alcohol from the shop but denied stealing any money. He told police he was drunk at the time of the murder and was addicted to alcohol, suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

Napakorn faces two charges:

  • Section 288 of the Criminal Code: Intentional murder, punishable by death, life imprisonment, or 15 to 20 years’ imprisonment.
  • Section 8 of the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation Firearms Act: Carrying a firearm in a public place without permission or necessity, punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both.

Central Thailand NewsCrime NewsThailand News

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Petch Petpailin

Petpailin, or Petch, is a Thai translator and writer for The Thaiger who focuses on translating breakingThai news stories into English. With a background in field journalism, Petch brings several years of experience to the English News desk at The Thaiger. Before joining The Thaiger, Petch worked as a content writer for several known blogging sites in Bangkok, including Happio and The Smart Local. Her articles have been syndicated by many big publishers in Thailand and internationally, including the Daily Mail, The Sun and the Bangkok Post. She is a news writer who stops reading news on the weekends to spend more time cafe hopping and petting dwarf shrimp! But during office hours, you can find Petch on LinkedIn and you can reach her by email at petch@thethaiger.com.
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