PHUKET: Accused Phuket body-in-the-bin killer Stein Havard Dokset denied counts of murder, concealing a body and possession of an illegal weapon when his trial began on Phuket today.
In a surprise move, the Norwegian expat businessman's lawyers even refused to accept DNA evidence from experts that the body in the bin is Rungnapa ''June'' Ratchasombut, Mr Dokset's former lover, who disappeared in 2009 at the age of 30.
Prosecutor Supachai Meankord appeared to be surprised at the denial by Mr Dokset of all charges as the trial began in Phuket Provincial Court in Phuket City.
The 50-year-old accused, looking slimmer from his stay in Phuket Prison since his arrest in February, appeared in court in a regulation burgundy prison top and shorts, with his ankles in shackles.
When the body was found at the house in Kata, on Phuket's holiday west coast, Mr Dokset at first denied all knowledge of the bin and its grisly contents but later told police that he had knocked Khun June into a wall accidentally as they argued.
The body was discovered by a team of special investigators from Bangkok because Khun June's family persevered and kept demanding answers despite lack of action from Phuket police to investigate her disappearance.
Her brother was in court today. So was the Patong police officer who married Khun June after her relationship with Mr Dokset soured.
Today's rejection by Mr Dokset of the charges left the prosecutor nonplussed.
It was eventually agreed that a hearing would be scheduled for October 29 in Surat Thani, where the first autopsy on the alleged remains of Khun June took place, then again on December 3 in Bangkok, where a further autopsy was conducted.
Mr Dokset's legal team also said that Mr Dokset needed time to contact his father in Norway to ask about money.
In a brief conversation outside the court, Mr Dokset's present girlfriend said that she was visiting him regularly at Phuket Prison.
Khun June's brother told Phuketwan that the family was seeking 12 million baht in compensation from Mr Dokset, to ensure the future of Khun June's two young children.
During a break in proceedings, Mr Dokset, when told about the compensation claim by Phuketwan, said: 'Give me a break, let's talk 20 baht.''
He went on to say that all the assets from the property business that he ran with Khun June were in her name, and that he estimated he had passed over to her at least 10 million baht in their time together.
''If she had saved the money, she would be very rich,'' he said.
In a surprise move, the Norwegian expat businessman's lawyers even refused to accept DNA evidence from experts that the body in the bin is Rungnapa ''June'' Ratchasombut, Mr Dokset's former lover, who disappeared in 2009 at the age of 30.
Prosecutor Supachai Meankord appeared to be surprised at the denial by Mr Dokset of all charges as the trial began in Phuket Provincial Court in Phuket City.
The 50-year-old accused, looking slimmer from his stay in Phuket Prison since his arrest in February, appeared in court in a regulation burgundy prison top and shorts, with his ankles in shackles.
When the body was found at the house in Kata, on Phuket's holiday west coast, Mr Dokset at first denied all knowledge of the bin and its grisly contents but later told police that he had knocked Khun June into a wall accidentally as they argued.
The body was discovered by a team of special investigators from Bangkok because Khun June's family persevered and kept demanding answers despite lack of action from Phuket police to investigate her disappearance.
Her brother was in court today. So was the Patong police officer who married Khun June after her relationship with Mr Dokset soured.
Today's rejection by Mr Dokset of the charges left the prosecutor nonplussed.
It was eventually agreed that a hearing would be scheduled for October 29 in Surat Thani, where the first autopsy on the alleged remains of Khun June took place, then again on December 3 in Bangkok, where a further autopsy was conducted.
Mr Dokset's legal team also said that Mr Dokset needed time to contact his father in Norway to ask about money.
In a brief conversation outside the court, Mr Dokset's present girlfriend said that she was visiting him regularly at Phuket Prison.
Khun June's brother told Phuketwan that the family was seeking 12 million baht in compensation from Mr Dokset, to ensure the future of Khun June's two young children.
During a break in proceedings, Mr Dokset, when told about the compensation claim by Phuketwan, said: 'Give me a break, let's talk 20 baht.''
He went on to say that all the assets from the property business that he ran with Khun June were in her name, and that he estimated he had passed over to her at least 10 million baht in their time together.
''If she had saved the money, she would be very rich,'' he said.
Denying doesn't seem like a smart thing to me at this stage, but time will tell.
Posted by stevenl on July 31, 2012 10:45