Bangkok: The court sentenced Amcyanide to death in the 7th case, for poisoning Fahdarinee to settle a debt from a pyramid scheme. At the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road, a verdict was handed down in case number A1802/2568 between the public prosecutor as plaintiff and Ms. Sararat Wuttitaporn, also known as Am Cyanide, as defendant, on charges of premeditated murder, murder for the purpose of obtaining or retaining benefits arising from another crime to conceal another crime, and adulterating food, medicine, or other consumer goods for consumption or use by others, with the adulteration resulting in the death of another person.
According to Thai News Agency, the prosecution alleged that the defendant adulterated food, medicine, or consumer goods with potassium cyanide, and then administered it to the deceased, Ms. Darinee or Fah Thepthawee, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining benefits arising from the commission of the crime of fraud. The defendant pleaded not guilty.
The court considered the evidence and found that on December 13, 2020, the deceased, Ms. Darinee, experienced chest tightness and difficulty breathing. She called for her husband, who was upstairs, but upon coming down, found her unconscious on the floor. He then called an ambulance. After 10 minutes, when the ambulance arrived, paramedics performed CPR and used a defibrillator for 30 minutes until she reached Sam Phran Hospital. Doctors there pronounced her dead.
Sam Phran Hospital then transported the deceased's body to Siriraj Hospital for autopsy. Medical witnesses stated that an external examination revealed no wounds. However, the autopsy found abnormalities in the left ventricle of the heart, petechiae in the lungs, and fatty liver, indicating oxygen deprivation. The cause of these symptoms could be due to the deceased's own heart muscle, alkaline electrolyte levels, or poisoning. However, cyanide testing is a specialized test and cannot be obtained through general examinations. Nevertheless, a review of the medical records from Sam Phran Hospital suggests a possible cause of death: cyanide poisoning.
The deceased's husband testified that the defendant had known the deceased since 2014 and had seen her at their house many times. On the day of the incident, the deceased was going to the market with the defendant. Shortly afterward, the deceased returned and said she was not feeling well and then fainted. The husband was unable to contact the defendant, so he called the deceased's sister. Later, the sister called the defendant via Facebook chat, and they discovered that the defendant had sent a message via Line to the deceased in the evening of December 12, 2020, saying that she would go to Sam Phran market and eat chicken rice on the morning of December 13.
The court found that the medical and toxicology witnesses, who had conducted a thorough autopsy and examination, and had no prior animosity towards the defendant, testified truthfully. The attending physician at Sam Phran Hospital and the forensic pathologist found several abnormalities indicating oxygen deprivation in the heart tissue, lungs, and liver fat, suggesting cyanide poisoning. All witness testimony was consistent with the deceased's husband's description of the symptoms. Therefore, the prosecution's evidence is credible in concluding that the deceased was poisoned with cyanide.
The defendant was in close proximity to the deceased during the period when cyanide takes effect. After the deceased separated from the defendant and returned home, the deceased experienced seizures, convulsions, foaming at the mouth, and fainted-symptoms of cyanide poisoning. This indicates that the defendant introduced cyanide into the deceased's body, possibly through contaminated food or drinks.
Although the defendant argued that no witnesses saw him adulterate the deceased's food and drinks with poison, the court found that the defendant's actions were well-planned and could not have been easily discovered by others.
The motive for the defendant's actions against the deceased was that the defendant had borrowed 60,000 baht from the deceased and never repaid it. The defendant had also persuaded the deceased to participate in three informal lending schemes, promising a combined return of approximately 200,000 baht, but the deceased died before receiving the return. It was later discovered that the defendant had multiple bank accounts linked to online gambling websites and accumulated debts amounting to millions of baht. Therefore, it is believed the defendant intended to kill the deceased to clear their debts. The prosecution's evidence is substantial and leaves no doubt that the defendant committed the crime as charged. The defense's evidence lacks the weight to refute the prosecution's evidence.
The court ruled that the defendant was guilty. The act constituted a single offense violating multiple laws. He was punished for premeditated murder, committed to obtain or retain benefits arising from other crimes, or to conceal other crimes, or to avoid punishment for other crimes-the law carrying the most severe penalty. Therefore, he was sentenced to death.
While reporters described the atmosphere in the courtroom, Am appeared cheerful and smiling, and spoke with her lawyer periodically. During the reading of the verdict, she stood listening with a calm expression, offering support from the sidelines. Mr. Sittha Biabangkerd was also present to hear the verdict. The relatives of the deceased, after the court handed down the death sentence, embraced each other and wept with joy.
Reporters further reported that the court summoned Am from the Central Women's Correctional Institution to hear the verdict today. The Criminal Court had previously ruled on Am's cases in seven instances, including today's case.
Regarding the cyanide cases, there are two death sentences: that of Ms. Siriporn (or Koy) and Ms. Darinee (or Fah). Two cases resulted in life imprisonment: those of Inspector Pu and Captain Nui. Three cases were acquitted: those of Ms. Nittaya, Ms. Rojarin, and Ms. Monthathip. Eight other cyanide cases are still pending trial.
Jirapha Wongswasdi, the older sister of Darinee Thepwi (or Fah), gave an interview after hearing the verdict, stating that she was satisfied with the decision. She said the court mercifully considered all the evidence, which led them to believe the defendant was the one who killed her sister. She added that they had fought the case throughout, based on the available evidence, as the case occurred in 2020 and the truth came to light with the case of Siriporn Khanwong (also known as Nong Koy). The family suspected foul play and gathered evidence, including chat messages and evidence indicating that her sister was last with the defendant at Sam Phran market. Furthermore, there were medical reports showing her sister had been poisoned by cyanide.
And today I saw Am in the courtroom. I felt that Am showed no remorse, was still smiling, and didn't feel guilty about what she did. She even turned to laugh with her lawyer. I think she's not normal. Moreover, Am didn't even look at the victims' relatives.
Ms. Jirapha also offered words of encouragement to the relatives of the victims who are still awaiting judgment, stating that no matter the outcome, they will face the consequences of their actions. She also offered her support to all the victim families.