Suicide by socks seen as 'possible'

The Central Police Forensic Science Division (CPFSD) yesterday affirmed it was possible for land fraud suspect Thawatchai Anukul to have hanged himself on the door of his detention cell using his socks but said no conclusion had been made as to whether his death was suicide or murder.

Thawatchai Mekprasertsuk, CPFSD chief, said a re-enactment of the suspect's alleged suicide carried out during yesterday's inspection of the detention cell confirmed the suspect could have used his own socks to hang himself from a door hinge in a Department of Special Investigation (DSI) detention room.

In the re-enactment, police used socks similar to those worn by Thawatchai during his detention. Officers found the socks could be suspended from the hinge as reported by the DSI and the hinge was able to withstand Thawatchai's body weight, the CPFSD chief said.

However, it could not be concluded at this point what actually caused Thawatchai's death, as more evidence needs to be gathered and considered, he added.

Investigators are taking careful steps in handling the case. If Thawatchai took his own life, signs of a struggle should have been present in the form of bruises or marks on his body, he said.

He said the re-enactment also revealed that when the socks were stretched by the force of a person's body weight, they could leave behind a faint mark on the neck, which is consistent with marks on Thawatchai's neck.

Tests also confirmed the socks allegedly used in the incident contained traces of DNA which matched that of Thawatchai, said Pol Maj Gen Thawatchai.

However, the senior officer noted the DNA of other people was also found on the socks.

The CPFSD has collected DNA samples from DSI officials involved in Thawatchai's detention and from the person who untied the socks from the body, he said.

The CPFSD was also looking at how Thawatchai could have sustained a ruptured liver without being attacked while in detention.

The Institute of Forensic Medicine earlier reported in its initial autopsy results that Thawatchai died of abdominal haemorrhaging and a ruptured liver from being hit with a solid, blunt object and asphyxiation from hanging, countering the DSI's claim that he committed suicide by hanging.

A joint investigation panel probing the death yesterday set out to determine exactly what caused Thawatchai's death and if any state officials were involved in the death. The investigation is expected to be wrapped up in a couple of weeks.