Ratchaburi: Police took a former subdistrict headman of Thap Takho to reenact the crime after he confessed to shooting and killing a man who attacked him at his home. He claimed self-defense after the man attacked him with a machete, striking him in the back of the head.
According to Thai News Agency, police at Dan Thap Tako Police Station, Ratchaburi Province, escorted Mr. Somchai, 68, a former headman of Dan Thap Tako Subdistrict, to the crime scene at house number 56, Moo 18, Dan Thap Tako Subdistrict, Chom Bueng District. Mr. Somchai is accused of using a shotgun to shoot Mr. Niwa, 45, a man who broke into his house and attacked him. In defense, Mr. Somchai fired five shots, one of which hit Mr. Niwa in the forehead, resulting in his death in the living room. The incident took place on the night of July 30th, with a sickle and scissors found in the victim's left hand at the scene.
During questioning, Mr. Somchai admitted to shooting Mr. Niwa. He recounted that he was watching TV when Mr. Niwa called out to him, seeking a ride to Nong Pak Dong village, Dan Makham Tia district, Kanchanaburi province. As Mr. Somchai did not recognize Mr. Niwa, he asked him to leave. As he returned to his house, Mr. Niwa allegedly grabbed a machete and attacked him, prompting Mr. Somchai to retreat to his bedroom, retrieve a gun, and shoot the intruder in self-defense. Initially charged with intentional homicide, Mr. Somchai posted bail of 200,000 baht and utilized his position as village headman to secure release during the investigation. He also filed a complaint against Mr. Niwa for trespassing and assault. The police have committed to expediting witness questioning and forensic evidence collection to ensure fairness to all parties involved.
Reporters also interviewed the deceased's wife, who explained that she and her husband had been working together pulling up coriander plants. On the day of the incident, he sustained a dog bite that became infected. She advised him to rest, but by 2 PM, he was nowhere to be found. Later, she was informed of a shooting, initially dismissing it until she recognized her husband's clothes and shoulder bag in a photo of the body. She expressed shock over his trespassing and the 10-kilometer journey from Village 9 to Village 18. She described her husband as generally unproblematic, noting that when drunk, he tended to be quiet and isolated.