Looking into the case report personally at the Chokchai Police Station yesterday morning, Sanit said the public could be confident that the killers would be jailed. Also, he said, if the two young women at the scene could be proven to be shouting to encourage the murder as claimed by the victim’s relatives, he would ensure that they too were punished and charged for being accessory to the murder.

Sanit said the six youngsters aged between 18 and 22 were facing charges of assaulting Somkiat Srichan to death, intruding into other people’s property as well as conspiracy to murder. As for the charge of pre-meditated murder that yields harsher punishment, Sanit explained that police had to determine if the youngsters were carrying swords for self-defence or with the intention to kill Somkiat. He also revealed that the six men tested negative to consuming drugs.

Chokchai superintendent Pol Colonel Chairob Junnawat said police had interviewed 13 witnesses and identified the two women shouting at the scene as minors who will be interrogated about their alleged behaviour. Pol Lt-Colonel Setthapat Reungwanich of the Central Investigation Bureau said he and two of his friends happened to be passing by at the time and had gone to stop the assault. He said he saw two youngsters standing in front of his car and reaching for their knife, so he threatened one of the wounded youngsters to put the knife down. The wounded boy was later identified as Peerapol Yospong-anan, whose arm sustained a serious cut. He said he took the wounded suspect to a hospital before handing the rest of the gang to Chokchai police.

Sanit also visited the bread shop and spoke to Somkiat’s relatives who were still shaken by the killing. Thanyachanok Srichan, Somkiat’s older sister, said some youngsters linked to the suspects also threatened to harm them, so they had no choice but to close the shop and stay else where.

She called on police to provide protection, saying she was less worried now that Sanit was supervising the case himself.

Somkiat’s cremation will be held today.

Sanit, meanwhile, took Peerapol in for questioning at Chokchai Police Station yesterday following his release from the hospital. The suspect reportedly confessed to committing the crime, but claimed he had no intention to kill the victim. He accused the victim of cutting him in the arm, adding that the group was carrying the swords for self-defence. The CCTV footage checked so far is in line with the suspect’s claim of Somkiat carrying a knife when arguing with the youngsters prior to the attack, a source said.