The fatal shooting of protest leader Sutin Tharatin on Sunday more likely resulted from a random attack rather than him being singled out, forensic expert Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand says.
About 70 companies of riot police are deployed at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau where the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order has its head office as anti-government protesters are approaching the compound in Bangkok yesterday. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL
Khunying Pornthip, in her capacity as National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) adviser, was speaking after examining a six-wheel truck Sutin was on when he was shot.
The truck was parked at the headquarters of the PTT group on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, the state oil company, which was closed down by the People’s Force for Democracy to Overthrow Thaksinism (Pefot).
Pefot member Tossapon Keawtima told Khunying Pornthip that he was with Sutin on the sound stage truck during the shooting. Sutin was shot while he was trying to move from the truck’s platform to hide underneath.
He held the bannister of the stairs leading to the truck with his right hand, turning his body to face the back of the vehicle. Khunying Pornthip believes this was the moment the bullets hit his body.
A total of 11 bullet holes were found in the truck.
Five holes were in the canvas on the left side of the truck. This means it is more likely the killer shot from the side of the truck through the canvas without seeing his target.
“The shooting meant to harm. But we can’t say that it was aimed at the protest leader [Sutin] particularly,” said Khunying Pornthip, a former director-general of the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS).
Pefot gave a bullet and two marbles found on the truck to Khunying Pornthip yesterday. The marbles were probably propelled from slingshots. They will be given to the CIFS.
Pefot also said another bullet was extracted from one of the other injured protesters and is being kept at the hospital.
The bullets will be examined to see if they are from the same gun, Khunying Pornthip said.
The People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) has asked the NHRC to oversee the police probe as it does not trust the police. Khunying Pornthip was then put in charge of Sutin’s autopsy on Monday.
Meanwhile, a man suspected of killing Sutin met police yesterday to deny he was the gunman. Sombat Thongyoi, 46, showed up at Bang Na police station and insisted he was innocent regarding the fatal clash near Wat Sri Iam temple.
He said he was driving by and stopped to get a closer look.
He blocked a man in a camouflage outfit from attacking others and then journalists took his photos which were used by online media to claim he had shot Sutin.
“I would like to ask online media to stop reporting the stories and the pictures saying I am the culprit. I would like the sharing of the pictures to stop as I have safety concerns on my life,” said Mr Sombat, who said he is a self-employed businessman living in Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province.