A couple who attacked a high school student with acid in Buri Ram last year have been sentenced to 35-year and 25-year prison terms for attempted murder.
The 18-year-old victim, Natthikarn “Aum” Khairum, lost her left ear and nearly went blind in her left eye due to the attack on August 27 of last year. Jetsadaporn, 21, and his wife, Angkana, 25, threw acid on Natthikarn while she was dining with her family at a restaurant in Buri Ram’s Nang Rong district.
Following the attack, Natthikarn underwent four months of treatment. Her grandmother and uncle, who were also present during the attack, sustained acid injuries as well.
The motive for the attack is believed to stem from a child abduction case filed against Jetsadaporn related to his previous relationship with Natthikarn, which had cost him some of his savings to settle.
Initially, Jetsadaporn and Angkana were charged with grievous bodily harm, but the charges were later elevated to attempted murder upon reevaluation of the case.
Lawyer Phattarapong Supakson stated that the Nang Rong Provincial Court initially sentenced the couple to death on Monday. However, because their crime did not result in any fatalities, their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. The sentences were further reduced to 25 years after the defendants admitted to their crime, with Jetsadaporn receiving an additional 10-year sentence due to his previous child abduction case.
In addition to their prison sentences, the couple must pay approximately 2 million baht in compensation to Natthikarn’s family.
