Crime
Witness Testifies Shot that Killed Italian came from Security Forces
Three witnesses told the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court on Friday they believed that Italian photo-journalist Fabio Polenghi died from shots fired by the military during the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration’s crackdown of the violent red-shirt protests in 2010.
BANGKOK – The Criminal Court yesterday heard a witness testify that the gunshot that killed Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi came from where the security forces were deployed during the 2010 political mayhem.Speaking from the witness stand in the inquest into Polenghi’s death, PBS Channel news-crew member Makid Khamnan said he was on assignment to cover the May 19 crowd-control operation at Rajdamri Road.
He said he heard the sound of gunfire, prompting him to run behind Polenghi to the scene and investigate.
He said he videotaped the unfolding incident, including the fall of Polenghi after gunshots were fired from the area occupied by security forces.
The prosecution had submitted his videotape as evidence.
The next hearing is scheduled for January 25. The court is expected to conclude the inquest by the middle of next year.
The victim’s sister Elisabetta Polenghi said she expected justice to prevail. She voiced her confidence in the Thai judiciary, saying the courts had ruled in the four previous inquests that victims were killed by gunshots fired from the soldiers.
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