Witnesses Fail To Appear In Tong Murder Trial

PHUKET TOWN: A court session scheduled to have taken place this morning was postponed when all five prosecution witnesses slated to testify in the Danis Wayne Tong murder trial failed to appear. The witnesses, Meen Klasuk, Arthit Chiyaiya, Wittaya Taweewongsap, Prasarn Lohajareekul and Ramon Alphibare [name transliterated by the prosecution], will now be subpoenaed to appear May 4-5, according to Phuket Public Prosecutor Chestavit Tantiphanwadee. Manit Panme, Prajuab Sukkong, Pairat Raksawong, Pratin Praktong and Belgian Hugo Vandervelde stand accused of participation in a murder-for-hire scheme in the gunning down of Tong, a 47-year-old American businessman, outside his Rawai home on the night of June 24, 1997.