Sakhon Nakhon-based Jomsap claimed to have sold her decade-old Toyota truck – licence number “Bor Khor 56 Sakhon Nakhon” – to Prapat Saenmuangkhot for Bt130,000 on the afternoon of March 11, 2005.

That night, cyclist Lua Phorbumrung suffered fatal injuries in a crash with the pickup in nearby Nakhon Phanom province.

Jomsap was sentenced to three years and two months in prison for reckless driving causing another’s death, but was freed in April 2015 after serving 18 months in jail.

With Jomsap, now 54, claiming to be innocent and the Appeals Court Region 4 initially finding grounds for a retrial, the Nakhon Phanom Court has scheduled witness hearings for February 8-10.

Prapat, 43, confirmed yesterday that Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers took his truck away for forensic investigation on January 22.

‘Shocked’ by original police summons

He recalled that after he presented the vehicle to police in 2005 in response to a summons, he continued to use it regularly and renewed car tax annually until last September. He said he had not renewed the tax then as he was preoccupied with odd jobs and didn’t have the money to pay for it. Prapat also confirmed that he bought the truck from Jomsap, who transferred ownership to him on March 11, 2005.

A week later he was “shocked” to receive a police summons saying that his vehicle may have been involved in a fatal accident.

He testified to police that he lent the truck to Jomsap that afternoon and picked it up the next day.

Prapat also said that he didn’t read the details of the case report at the time as he was nervous and just wanted to give testimony, sign the document and get out of the police station.