The parents of two post-graduate students killed in a deadly high-speed car crash in Ayutthaya last month want police to file a premeditated murder charge against the Mercedes-Benz driver.
Thivakorn Horsaengchai, father of Thanthaphat Horsaengchai, and Thongthip Thaworn, mother of Kritsana Thaworn, met yesterday with Pol Col Pitsanu Tapinta, chief of the Inquiry Division of Ayutthaya provincial police at Bang Pa-in police station to demand police file a premeditated murder charge against Janepob Veeraporn, Wichean Chupthaisong, a lawyer for the Horsaengchai family said yesterday. Mr Wichean accompanied the victim's parents who met with police to discuss the investigation into their children's case.
On March 13, Mr Janepob was driving at a very high speed when he rammed his Mercedes-Benz into the rear of a Ford containing the post-graduate students who were travelling on Phahon Yothin Road in Ayutthaya's Bang Pa-in district.
Thanthaphat, 34, and Kritsana, 32, were killed in the crash after their car was engulfed in flames. Both were pursuing master's degrees at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.
Mr Wichean said the victims' parents want police to file a premeditated murder charge against Mr Janepob as the suspect was travelling at an extremely high speed and so he could foresee that the speeding car could cause deaths if it crashed into other vehicles. Mr Janepob was travelling at speeds of 215-257km per hour at the time of the collision, according to police.
In Thailand, the maximum speed limit in cities and towns is 60km per hour and it varies between 90 and 120km per hour on main and country roads outside city centres.
Police also found anti-depressant medication in Mr Janepob's vehicle which can cause drowsiness if taken.
Mr Janepob is now facing seven charges including reckless driving causing death, property damage, driving without regard for safety causing death, driving while unfit to do so, drink-driving causing death, driving under the influence of drugs, and speeding.
Pol Col Pitsanu said investigators will look at the request by the victims' families, adding that talks between the police commander and a prosecutor will take place to determine whether to press ahead with a premeditated murder charge.
Considerable progress in the in- vestigation has been made, with 90% of witnesses having completed their interviews in addition to the victims' parents, Pol Col Pitsanu said.
A group of investigators yesterday interviewed Mr Janepob at his home, he said. The suspect sustained a knee injury in the deadly road accident.
Pol Col Pitsanu said investigators will forward the case to prosecutors for indictment by next Tuesday.
Thanthaphat's younger sister who went to the police station with the parents said yesterday that Mr Janepob has not contacted her family since the accident. She wants police to follow procedures properly and fairly, adding the death of a loved one is painful but a sudden loss was completely devastating.
A friend of Kritsana yesterday told reporters she had yet to recover from the loss of her friend and that Mr Janepob has not contacted Kritsana's family.
