Lampang: Police at Hang Chat Police Station in Lampang province have solved the case of a 37-year-old woman who was fatally shot in the forest within just 24 hours. The 39-year-old female shooter has been apprehended and taken to the scene for a reenactment after confessing to the crime due to jealousy over her ex-husband.
According to Thai News Agency, police at Hang Chat Police Station escorted Ms. Wanpen, or Yim, 39, the suspect in a premeditated murder case, from the detention room to a vehicle to request a first remand order from the Lampang Provincial Court. She confessed to killing Ms. Sukanya, or Pui, 37, her ex-husband's mistress, out of jealousy, even though she had separated from her ex-husband many years ago and had a new husband.
In the morning, a group of relatives and close friends came to visit and brought food. Ms. Wanpen was visibly distressed and cried continuously. As officers escorted her to the prisoner transport vehicle, reporters tried to speak with her, but Ms. Wanpen remained silent, refused to answer any questions, and immediately boarded the car. Relatives were there to see her off. Officers assured them that they could continue to visit her.
In this case, police acted swiftly after receiving a crucial tip from a "mysterious letter" sent to the landowner, identifying the perpetrator and providing witness information. Although Wanpen initially denied the charges, she confessed due to overwhelming evidence. Authorities enlisted the help of her ex-husband to persuade her, eventually leading her to reveal the location where she discarded the firearm. A search was conducted yesterday evening (May 22nd), where the weapon was found discarded on a roadside in a wooded area near Ban Pong Tai, Pong Yang Khok Subdistrict, Hang Chat District, Lampang Province.
During questioning, the suspect confessed that on the day of the incident (May 21st), at approximately 4:30 PM, she rode her motorcycle looking for her ex-husband. Upon reaching the scene at the edge of a pond in a wooded area behind the village, she didn't find her ex-husband, but instead encountered Ms. Sukanya, the deceased, with whom she had previously argued. Driven by jealousy, a violent altercation ensued. The suspect, Ms. Wanpen, was holding a gun the entire time. She claimed the gun accidentally discharged, shooting Ms. Sukanya once, resulting in her death. She then fled on her motorcycle and discarded the gun by the roadside.
After the weapon was recovered, police immediately took Ms. Wanpen to the crime scene to reenact the events as part of her confession. The suspect knelt down and bowed, asking for forgiveness from the deceased, visibly distressed. She is initially facing four serious charges: murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, carrying a firearm in a city, village, or public place, and firing a gun without justification in a city or village. The Hang Chat Police Station handled this case swiftly, closing it within one day.