Pak Kret, Thailand – A hair salon owner and his two wives were held in pre-trial detention after a 26-year-old man died in their shop in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi province, in a case police treated as suspected premeditated killing.
Incident and initial account by the accused
The killing took place on a Friday in a hair salon in Pak Kret, near Bangkok. The 59-year-old shop owner, Jirawat Rattanawimantip, told police he had defended himself against a man who allegedly threatened him with a weapon and demanded money.
Officers arrested Jirawat and two women who were in the shop and were later identified as his wives. Relatives of the victim gathered in front of the building while police secured the area.
Forensic findings undermine self-defence claim
Investigators described the injuries reported by the shop owner, who said he had also been attacked, as superficial and strikingly even. A forensic expert from Srinakharinwirot University assessed this uniformity as atypical for wounds sustained in a genuine physical fight.
Police also examined the evidence at the scene, including the position of the victim and nearby objects. Experts concluded that the situation they found did not match a spontaneous confrontation.
Audio recording emerges as key evidence
A third central piece of evidence was an audio recording that, according to police, captured the man in the salon shortly before his death. Investigators said the content of the recording contradicted the narrative of a spontaneous clash.
According to a police reconstruction, the victim had allegedly been lured to the salon by phone beforehand. This version supported the suspicion of a planned act, rather than a dispute that suddenly escalated.
Charges and proceedings before provincial court
On the basis of the collected evidence, prosecutors filed charges against Jirawat and his two wives, Natthayan Rattanawimantip (43) and Phonephimonh Sengchanh (34). They were accused of jointly committing intentional murder and of concealing the cause of death.
The following Saturday, the three suspects were brought before the Nonthaburi Provincial Court and placed in pre-trial detention. The court granted the prosecution’s request for their continued custody.
Unanswered questions over motive and roles
The accused remained silent about the allegations. Media reports referred to speculation over possible motives, including personal conflicts or financial disputes, but police did not comment on this officially.
The specific role of the two wives and the exact planning of the crime remained under investigation. Further forensic assessments and witness interviews were announced as the inquiry continued.
Case draws significant public attention
The proceedings attracted wide media interest in Thailand, because the self-defence claim appeared to have been challenged at an early stage through forensic analysis. Such cases were perceived as rare, as forensic counter-evidence was seldom communicated so quickly to the public.
The investigation was ongoing, and no date for a verdict had been set. Prosecutors were treating the matter as a case with aggravating circumstances, underlining its seriousness in the criminal justice system.