According to the Nation, Thailand’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Santilak Thanyahan, 53, who was convicted of murdering a man who he caught urinating into a canal near his home.
Santilak, a former professor of engineering at Chulalongkorn University, has stated that he will seek a royal pardon.
Legal troubles began for Santilak in March of 2005, when he entered into an altercation with Suthan Itthisurasing, a food vendor who Santilak caught urinating into a canal near his house. A heated altercation followed, during which Santilak fired several warning shots over Suthan’s head.
Santilak claims that a friend of Suthan’s then came at him with a knife and tried to take his gun. During this struggle, the gun went off once more, killing Suthan.
A primary court sentenced Santilak to 18 years in prison in November 2006. This decision was later amended and Santilak currently faces 13 years and six days imprisonment.
