The father of a British teenager murdered in Thailand confronted his killer at the scene where his son’s battered body was found, after flying out from Eastbourne, Sussex, to assist with the investigation into the death of 16-year-old Woramet Ben Taota, known to friends as Ben.
Ben was discovered in a grove in Lampang, in the north of Thailand, with serious head wounds. Chaiwat Boonkarin, 44, was charged with his murder after confessing to the killing, telling police he bludgeoned Ben with a piece of wood as revenge for a bungled drug deal (he claims Ben was a methamphetamine runner for him).
Ben’s dad Steven Graham, 60, approached the police car saying:
‘Scum, look at me. Look me in the eye. Look me in the eye you b*****d.’
Take his mask off, I want to see his face. You’re a coward. You’re a coward. F*****g look at me you b*****d.
No, you can’t look at me, you’re a coward. Look, look at me. You b*****d.’
Steven was comforted by Ben’s mother Ooy Taota, who also yelled at the suspected killer, along with several relatives.
Can’t even begin to imagine how it must have felt being so close to the man who killed their child:
The body of Ben’s girlfriend, Suraphltchaya Khamsa, 16, was also recovered just a few miles from the location where he was found. Boongarin denies murdering Suraphltchaya, but faces the death penalty if convicted of either or both murders.
Police Major General Mongkol Sampawapol, commander of Lampang Provincial Police, said:
‘We suspect that the suspect is responsible for both murders.
However, police will also continue investigating the deaths to check if anybody else was involved.
The female victim’s body is now being sent to hospital for an autopsy to find traces of rape or sexual assault, because the suspect has a history of these crimes.’
FFS. Just a terrible, terrible story all around. All we can do is hope that justice is served and Chaiwat Boonkarin gets what’s coming, whether that’s in the notorious Thai prisons he’s spent so much time in already or the death penalty that will follow. RIP Ben and Suraphltchaya.
For the guy in Thailand who has dedicated his life to becoming Vin Diesel, click HERE. Seems like it’s going well.
