Two defendants in Thai actress drowning case plead guilty in court

Two defendants in the case surrounding the death of actress Nida Patcharaveerapong, aka “Tangmo”, have pleaded guilty in the Criminal Court, which has scheduled sentencing forMay 10th.
Nida died following a fall into the Chao Phraya River from a speed boat on February 24th last year. There were five people on board at the time.
Pornsak Wipas-apanont, the personal lawyer of another defendant, Wisapat Manomairat, told the media today (Thursday) that Thanupat Lerttaweewit, the speed boat’s owner, and helmsman Paibul Trikanchananan, who earlier denied all charges, have changed their pleas to guilty. The Criminal Court has decided to separate their cases from those of the other four defendants.
Thanupat is facing charges of negligence leading to the death of another person, operating a boat without a license or using a boat with an expired license, while Paibul was charged with operating a boat without a license or using a boat with an expired license, resulting in the death of another person.
For the remaining four defendants, Pornsak said that, since the court has decided to separate their cases from Thanupat and Paibul, the trial process will start all over again.
The four other defendants are Nitas Kiratisoothisathorn, Wisapat Manomairat, Idsarin Juthasuksawat, Nida’s manager, and Peem Thamthirasri, who was not on the speed boat.
Panida Siriyutyothin, the mother of the late Nida, said today that she was surprised but welcomed the guilty pleas, adding that their situation may have got worse if they had fought the cases in court.