CHANTHABURI, Nov 12 (TNA) – A retired police officer on
Tuesday opened fire inside a courtroom in Chanthaburi province, killing the
plaintiff and attorney just before the judge would hand down the verdict on a
bitter land-right lawsuit.
The shooting occured around 9.30 am at the Provincial Court
of Chanthanburi. The defendant,
67-year-old Tanin Jantarahip, reportedly had a fierce quarrel with the
plaintiff Bancha Porameekhanaporn while waiting to hear the ruling.
Tanin, a former major general of the Royal Thai Police, drew
a pistol and opened fire at Bancha and other members.
Bancha and the lawyer were later pronounced dead at a
hospital. His wife, Supapon, and four
others have been seriously injured.
The gunman has also been wounded but it is unclear whether
he was hot by security officers.
The two parties have been in the long-running legal battle
for more than a decade.
It is unknown how Tanin managed to get a hold of the
automatic weapon inside the secured courthouse.(TNA)
