Chanikorn Thongyoy was shot and killed in Lopburi's Muang district allegedly be Opas Onngern, a deputy village headman who had a quarrel with her father, Praiwal, 33, earlier this week.

Praiwal told the Foundation president and former MP, Pavena Hongsakul, that he had argued Opasabout why his family had not been included in a local charity handout.

Praiwal alleged that Opas, his nephew-in-law, scolded him, pointed a gun, and threatened to kill him.

Praiwal said that his daughter Chanikorn rushed to him screaming "Don't kill my dad" at the same time that Opas pulled the trigger.

The bullet went through her body and hit him in the left leg, Praiwal said.

The girl was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The grieving father complained to Pavena because they feared the police investigation would not give them justice. Opas had claimed that the gun was fired accidentally and, on Thursday, the police had taken Opas for the crime reenactment without the family's presence.

Praiwal said Opas had sent him Bt10,000 in cash when he collected Chanikorn's body from the hospital, and another Bt10,000 on Friday for the girl's funeral, after which Opas promised to talk with the family. 

Upon receiving the family's complaint, Pavena contacted the superintendent of the Tha Hin police station, Colonel Pongdech Patchareon. She urged police to reconduct the crime reenactment and asked Praiwal not to cremate his daughter's body  on Sunday as planned, so that an autopsy could be performed at the Police Forensic Medicine Institute.

Pavena said she would ask the Justice Ministry to provide compensation and assistance money for the family in accordance with the Compensation to Damaged Parties and the Wrongly Accused in Criminal Cases Act, BE 2544 (2001).

The Nation