70-Year-Old Convicted Killer Shoots Victim's Relative Dead
A 70-year-old man in Ang Thong province shot and killed a relative of his earlier stabbing victim on August 22, reigniting a decade-old feud. Police arrested Sanya Patphu at the scene with a shotgun after he allegedly confronted Saichorn Se
On August 23, Wisetchai Chang Police Station in Ang Thong province brought Sanya Patphu, 70, to interrogation with a long-barreled shotgun in custody. He is accused of shooting dead Saichorn Sertkij, 56, on the evening of August 22 near a village road in Tambon Saw Rong Jai, Wisetchai Chang district. The victim sustained gunshot wounds to the left leg—with eight buckshot pellets embedded—and to the chest with another eight pellets embedded. Both hands bore marks from gripping a steel rod about 60 centimeters long.
The suspect initially claimed he was confronted outside his home. When Saichorn rode past on a motorcycle, they argued about the stabbing death of Saichorn's relative years earlier, allegedly committed by the suspect. The suspect then retrieved the shotgun from inside, came out, and fired two rounds, killing Saichorn on the spot. He remained at the scene and surrendered.
Police charged him with premeditated murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition without license, and carrying a gun in populated areas. He was taken to the crime scene to reconstruct the incident and confessed.
The victim's relatives stated that in 2013, Sanya had stabbed the victim's brother to death and received a 10-year sentence, though he served approximately 3–4 years. Upon release, he quarreled with and shot Saichorn, a relative of his earlier victim.
The suspect's relatives said they do not know the cause. They described him as normally quiet, hardworking, and not hot-tempered. They doubt the killing stemmed from old grudges, since he was prosecuted and released years ago; if he harbored such resentment, they argued, he would have acted long before now, not after so much time had passed.
