Murderer spared death sentence

Manama

 A man, who allegedly murdered his Thai girlfriend, has been spared the death penalty yesterday on an appeal filed. The accused was earlier given the capital punishment by the High Criminal Court. However, the High Criminal Appeals Court reduced it to life imprisonment. 

 The incident prior to the case took place on November 3, 2013, when Thidarat Choochan, 31, was found dead with multiple burn marks at a Hoora apartment. 

The accused allegedly assaulted the victim sexually, tortured and then murdered the her – whom he was in relationship with since 2009 – as an aftermath of a financial row, according to court files. The accused called the police himself and said he found his girlfriend dead. However, prosecutors said he had later confessed to tying her up with a tie and duct tape, beating her with a metal bar and a wooden stick and burning her head as well as body with a lighter.

 "We were in a relationship for years and she occasionally stayed in my apartment where we shared alcohols and drugs," the defendant had earlier told prosecutors. He added that he had many financial disputes owing to her continuous demand for drugs.

 The defendant also told prosecutors that he had attacked the victim on several occasions, but the last fallout between them proved to be the final straw. 

 He had allegedly caused multiple cuts across her body using a razor. Medical reports revealed that the victim succumbed to her injuries. Police said that they had earlier received 26 complaints against the defendant, ranging between drugs abuse, theft and physical assault.