Suspected killer of MP's son says it was self-defence

The man who said he killed an MP's son insists he only returned gunfire to defend himself after a road rage incident.

Published: 01/09/2012 at 12:00 AM
Writer: Prasit Tangprasert

Mun Poolsap, a 40-year-old building contractor, gave his account at a press conference held in Nakhon Ratchasima province yesterday amid high security.

He said he was driving alone on Aug 20 from his construction site in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima and indicated to the vehicle of Farut Thaised, son of Chartthaipattana Party MP for Uthai Thani Chada Thaised, as he was about to overtake it on Khao Yai-Wang Nam Khieo Road.

After being overtaken, Farut's Toyota Prado flashed high beams from its headlights at his Toyota Vigo pickup truck. Mr Mun responded by shining spotlights on his truck back on Farut's vehicle.

Gunshots were then fired from behind his pickup, Mr Mun said, and bullets hit the truck. He said he let Farut overtake him and fired three shots from his 9mm pistol at Farut's vehicle, which lost control and hit a roadside power pole.

Mr Mun said he then sped off and threw his gun away in Ban Khanong Phra village on his way to go into hiding in Bangkok. He had his pickup repaired at a garage in the capital. Its damaged parts were replaced and fixed and its spotlights were removed. He then returned to work in Pak Chong.

He learned from the media that he had killed the son of the MP. Afraid he would be in danger, he contacted Pol Col Panu Buranasiri, deputy commander for investigation of Region 3 Provincial Police, and turned himself in.

He said he did not have enough money for a legal dispute with an MP, so he hoped the police would guarantee justice.

"I apologise [to Mr Chada]. I did not intend [to kill Farut]." he said.

Mr Mun insisted he had fired his gun in self-defence and had done so alone.

His gun is unregistered. He bought it from a man in Ratchaburi for 1,500 baht. Mr Mun is registered as a local in Chom Bung district of Ratchaburi.

On the suspect's pickup truck, there are six bullet holes in its console, right fender, right rear lamp, front right wheel, right headlight and left grille.

Assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen Charamporn Suramanee said police intentionally released false information about the suspect's vehicle, saying it was a Mitsubishi Strada, so that the suspect would not be aware he was being tracked.

The police have not found the gun used in the murder case.

Mr Mun has been charged with premeditated murder and the gunmen who were in Farut's car will be charged with attempted murder. Pol Lt Gen Charamporn insisted police had not arrested a scapegoat.

Mr Chada, who was in a car in front of his son's vehicle on that day, said he saw two people in the killer's vehicle.

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Discussion 1 : 01/09/2012 at 10:45 PM: As PointofView says, this smells. All the bullet holes in Mum's truck are on the right front and left front grill, indicating whomever was in Farut's car fired multiple times as Farut passed Mum. And they are charging Mum with premeditated murder? And who are these mystery passengers who are being charged with attempted murder. Why aren't they being named? And who was the third gunman, the one who fired the .380 caliber shells found in Farut's car. I'm not saying Mun isn't involved, but I'm not buying Chadra's story or his witnesses. Somebody in Farut's car is covering something up....
Discussion 2 : 01/09/2012 at 07:16 PM: It is a story to watch, but I think we all know who the police and courts will find to be guilty.
Discussion 3 : 01/09/2012 at 05:38 PM: Darwins theory at work, get rid of both of these nut heads, the society will be a better place. I'm glad it happened in a remote area, not in the middle of a dense population.
Discussion 4 : 01/09/2012 at 04:26 PM: Time for the lie dectector test.
Discussion 5 : 01/09/2012 at 03:12 PM: Oh I think 2-3 years suspended sentence. He give himself up. He is helpful. Only one person die. An accident only.
Discussion 6 : 01/09/2012 at 01:49 PM: This story smells worse and worse. "Mr Chada, who was in a car in front of his son's vehicle on that day, said he saw two people in the killer's vehicle." LOL - he earlier stated that he didn't notice his son's car missing until he arrived at the resort! "On the suspect's pickup truck, there are six bullet holes in its console, right fender...." doesn't match with "He had his pickup repaired at a garage in the capital. Its damaged parts were replaced and fixed" "police intentionally released false information about the suspect's vehicle, saying it was a Mitsubishi Strada, so that the suspect would not be aware he was being tracked." Strictly incredible, because the public was asked to help catch the suspect and a reward was offered. I suspect a brown lie to safe face. "Pol Lt Gen Charamporn insisted police had not arrested a scapegoat" - implying they sometimes do.
Discussion 7 : 01/09/2012 at 01:36 PM: Did I get this right.Farut shoots at Mun from behind. Farut then passes Mun. Why at this point didn't he pull over and stop. Why the need for self-defence if the guy is doing 80ks and going away from you?
Discussion 8 : 01/09/2012 at 01:20 PM: It's lucky that both gun carriers met each other for a showdown and not some innocent unarmed citizen.
Discussion 9 : 01/09/2012 at 12:54 PM: Why is he smiling and wearing a bullet proof vest in Custody, he must be really scared!
Discussion 10 : 01/09/2012 at 12:53 PM: Well dead men do not talk, its taken that long to sort the story out, fire a few shots into the back of his pickup to make it look good. Question, why did he run, why did he change his pick up's appearance. Simple so he would not get caught! The police saying it was a different vehicle, well if you believe that one, they had no idea.
Discussion 11 : 01/09/2012 at 10:49 AM: One was a politicians son and the other was a building contractor .Who do you think would act badly to start this ? Although they both felt the need to carry guns .Maybe they were meant to meet each other .
Discussion 12 : 01/09/2012 at 10:42 AM: The question comes up why did either of them have guns in their possession.
Discussion 13 : 01/09/2012 at 10:40 AM: D2 you are dreaming
Discussion 14 : 01/09/2012 at 10:05 AM: I'm amazed that in a nation with strict gun control, that this could happen. These ppl or not street hoodlums that you find in LA doing a drive by shooting in a neighborhood turf war. so much for gun control
Discussion 15 : 01/09/2012 at 10:01 AM: Great headline. Suspected killer? The guy has confessed
Discussion 16 : 01/09/2012 at 09:55 AM: Thailand ranks third behind South Africa and Columbia in murders by handgun. This is not per capital. It is the number of people killed. Even if the southern killings were omitted the ranking wouldn’t change. The change has to come from gun toting hot heads who think they need to shoot there fellow Thai when they lose face. The other stat I found was quite interesting. These murder stats often reflect the prevalence of the police and the willingness to report a crime. This doesn’t bode well for Thai police.
Discussion 17 : 01/09/2012 at 09:46 AM: It is rare to find myself agreeing with Android, but he is right. Without a special family background, one even gets expelled from universities when caught cheating on an exam.
Discussion 18 : 01/09/2012 at 09:38 AM: WHAT is going on in Thailand? I thought Buddhists were full of kindness and forgiveness. I am talking about the guy who were shot at first from behind!
Discussion 19 : 01/09/2012 at 08:56 AM: Didn't Haan Solo shoot first?
Discussion 20 : 01/09/2012 at 08:17 AM: I wonder how differently this would play out if the suspect had been killed by someone in the SUV of the MP's son.
Discussion 21 : 01/09/2012 at 07:42 AM: Without a special family background in thailand like the teen involved in the Thammasat academics car crash, this building contractor needs to go to jail.
Discussion 22 : 01/09/2012 at 07:04 AM: As I recall, the police indicated at the time of the incident, that it could have been road rage. Well done!! Now you have the suspect & he said it was road rage. Crime solved! Why am I not surprised he said it was road rage.
Discussion 23 : 01/09/2012 at 06:13 AM: We have no way of knowing exactly what happened and who really fired first, but hopefully the Judges who decides this case will make their decisions based solely on the evidence showing what happened. The written law is blind to the social status of the parties, I hope the men or women who serve the law will be too.
Discussion 24 : 01/09/2012 at 05:43 AM: Whoever shot first is wrong and whoever shot second should be considered as self defence from iPhone application.

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