PHUKET: The trial of a Norwegian man accused of killing his Thai lover and hiding her body in a bin on Phuket was due to proceed in a Bangkok court today.
Stein Havard Dokset is accused of disposing of Rungnapa ''June'' Ratchasombut and storing her body at the home they once shared in Phuket's west coast Kata district.
The hearing shifted to Bangkok today because a pathologist involved in examining the remains of Khun Rungnapa has moved from the province of Surat Thani, where post mortem work took place, to Bangkok.
The case against Mr Dokset is proceeding more slowly than anticipated because he has pleaded not guilty and told police her death was accidental.
A body believed to be that of Khun Rungnapa was found in a rubbish bin at the house where Mr Dokset was still living in February this year.
Khun Rungnapa was last seen alive in July, 2009.
Mr Dokset said that around that time, he and Khun Rungnapa argued at the house. He said that she hit him first, he responded, her head hit a wall and she fell to the floor.
Instead of going to the police - he thought it would go badly for him - he put Khun Rungnapa's body into a plastic bag, shoved her into a green wheelie bin and parked it in a downstairs laundry space.
The case has grown more complicated because Mr Dokset now rejects the prosecution's assertion that the body is that of his former lover.
As a consequence, forensic proof is required and the hearing has shifted first to Surat Thani and now to Bangkok.
The case is expected to resume on Phuket next year.
Stein Havard Dokset is accused of disposing of Rungnapa ''June'' Ratchasombut and storing her body at the home they once shared in Phuket's west coast Kata district.
The hearing shifted to Bangkok today because a pathologist involved in examining the remains of Khun Rungnapa has moved from the province of Surat Thani, where post mortem work took place, to Bangkok.
The case against Mr Dokset is proceeding more slowly than anticipated because he has pleaded not guilty and told police her death was accidental.
A body believed to be that of Khun Rungnapa was found in a rubbish bin at the house where Mr Dokset was still living in February this year.
Khun Rungnapa was last seen alive in July, 2009.
Mr Dokset said that around that time, he and Khun Rungnapa argued at the house. He said that she hit him first, he responded, her head hit a wall and she fell to the floor.
Instead of going to the police - he thought it would go badly for him - he put Khun Rungnapa's body into a plastic bag, shoved her into a green wheelie bin and parked it in a downstairs laundry space.
The case has grown more complicated because Mr Dokset now rejects the prosecution's assertion that the body is that of his former lover.
As a consequence, forensic proof is required and the hearing has shifted first to Surat Thani and now to Bangkok.
The case is expected to resume on Phuket next year.
(moderated)
Posted by Ted Davis on December 3, 2012 18:30
Editor Comment:
Ted, I thought you of all people would have begun to understand that we don't publish pathetic top-of-the-head put-downs. They achieve nothing. They are mind-numbingly lame. If you don't have real information or ideas to add, stick with the sofa and the television.