Murder on wheels: three held

PHUKET TOWN: Three teenagers were being held on murder charges today as police revealed details of a killing-on-wheels at Saphan Hin in which a shotgun was used to blow away a young rival. The three were arrested yesterday in Chalong and police confiscated two motorcycles and two shotguns allegedly used in the attack on 19-year-old Nikorn Onbutra at about 10 pm on Wednesday, outside the Phuket Provincial Forest Office. In jail today were Eakkachai Namkaew, Atthapol Somboonprom and Wissanu Maliwan, all 18, of Chalong. They are charged with the murder of Nikorn and with carrying firearms in a public place. Two others, including the trigger man, have so far escaped arrest. Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, said the shooting was a revenge killing following an argument between the victim and his alleged killers a few days ago. Col Paween said Eakkachai, confessed that he and four friends waited to shoot Nikorn when he came to Saphan Hin on Wednesday. Atthapol was riding one motorbike with another friend, Chatchai Nampakit, on the back. Wissanu rode a second motorbike with Eakkachai and a friend named Aroon Sriputhong behind him. When they saw Nikorn on the back of a motorbike being driven by his friend, Charin Sattapanon, they came up alongside and Chatchai allegedly used a shotgun to shoot Nikorn in the neck. Eakkachai also tried to fire a second shotgun but it would not work. Charin rode quickly to Wachira Phuket Hospital, where Nikorn later died. The three men under arrest are to appear in court tomorrow. Police are still looking for Chatchai and Aroon.