elef Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Death for drunk driver Published on September 01, 2005 The Provincial Court yesterday sentenced a 23-year-old man to death after his drunk driving killed four people and injured four others. Nattapong Raksapong turned pale and fell to his knees when the verdict was read. None of his relatives was in court to hear the verdict. Four police officers had to help Nattapong walk out of the courtroom. The court found Nattapong guilty of deliberate murder, causing injuries, damaging property and breaking traffic laws. The court said it found no merit in commuting the sentence. Nattapong has 30 days to appeal. ?He has our sympathy, but we believe he deserves capital punishment for what he has done,? said a relative of Nattapong, who asked not to be named. On March 12, Nattapong drank five bottles of liquor and stole a six-wheel truck from his adoptive father. He later hit eight people in four separate accidents. His victims included seven students who were about to take the university entrance examination. The four who died were killed instantly. Nattapong was finally arrested when he crashed into a pickup, leaving its driver dead at the scene. The Nation MAHA SARAKHAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickfarang Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 This sounds harsh to me. Is there no reduced charge, similar to manslaughter, that might have been availble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoiledCowboy Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 rickfarang said:This sounds harsh to me. Is there no reduced charge, similar to manslaughter, that might have been availble? He killed four innocent persons, injured four others, who knows how horribly, in four seperate accidents whilst off is face at the wheel of a stolen truck! And you say his sentence is harsh?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samak Posted September 2, 2005 Report Share Posted September 2, 2005 yes it is harsh, as there is not premeditation! and in particular if you compare how VIP's who mastermind murder (WITH premeditation) are handled in thailand! i do not think that any western country would sentence anybody to death or life long imprisonment for drunk driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoiledCowboy Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 The offence occured in Thailand and the penalty was applied accordingly, under Thailand law. Thailand ain't anywhere else and it's their laws...so what any Western country would sentence for a similar offence is, respectfully, irrelevant. And yup, of course, guiltier parties walk the streets free men everywhere...it's not what you know it's who you know and how much you paid them...see Indnoesia/Bali and it's "legal" system for a good example of asian-style graft! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evel_Penivel Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 samak said:i do not think that any western country would sentence anybody to death or life long imprisonment for drunk driving. In the U.S., 46 of the 50 states have laws against vehicular homicide, which mean a drunk driver can be sentenced up to life imprisonment even though there was no premeditation. It is rare, but impaired drivers can be charged in the U.S. with capital murder. As far as I know, only two men have been sentenced to death in the U.S. for causing fatal accidents while drunk, but neither was executed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 DRUNK DRIVING: Activist hails death sentence Published on Sep 01 , 2005. The Nation Capital punishment for drunken driver who killed four seen as landmark verdict A foundation against drunk driving said the death sentence handed down by a court in Maha Sarakham province this week against a convicted drunk driver would set a new standard in Thai society. Dr Taejing Siripanich, secretary-general of the Campaign Against Drunk Driving Foundation, said this was the first case he has seen where the suspect was punished to such a harsh extent. He said it made a welcome change. On Wednesday, Nattapong Raksapong, 23, was sentenced to death on several charges related to a drunk driving rampage in 2004 in which four people were killed, four were injured and five vehicles were damaged. Dr Taejing said drunk driving punishments have been light in the past and we still have many drunkards on the roads as a result. He said it was high time that Thai people realised that drunk drivers are blights on society. "It is not enough to campaign against drunk driving by informing the public, we also have to have severe punishments," he said. "Drunk driving is not just carelessness, it is intent to kill people." Phattharabhandu Krissana, 36, leader of a victims' group, said his network attempts to tell society that drunk drivers intend to kill innocent people on the roads and they should be punished as such. "Drunk driving is no different to holding a gun because they are ready to kill anybody. Nattapong deserves his punishment," said Phattharabhandu, who was maimed in an accident caused by a drunk driver. He also urged the government to amend the punishment for drunk driving and expand it to 2-5 years in jail. According to the statistics of the foundation, over 6,500 deaths and 500,000 injuries have been caused by drunk drivers each year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samak Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 chuckwoww said:"Drunk driving is not just carelessness, it is intent to kill people.""Drunk driving is no different to holding a gun because they are ready to kill anybody. what a stupid bullshit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samak Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 even after 15 beers i drive more safe and much better than many Thais (in particular Thai Ladies) it was my unfortunate fate to drive with....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted September 3, 2005 Report Share Posted September 3, 2005 samak said: chuckwoww said:"Drunk driving is not just carelessness, it is intent to kill people.""Drunk driving is no different to holding a gun because they are ready to kill anybody. what a stupid bullshit! Actually chuckwoww didn't say that. He doesn't even agree with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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