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The Supreme Court will hand down its decision in the appeal against a murder conviction and death sentence by well-known gynaecologist Dr Wisut Boonkasemsanti.

He was found guilty of the 2001 killing of his estranged wife, dismembering her and flushing her body parts down a toilet.

The Court of Appeal in July 2005 upheld a Criminal Court conviction and sentence of the Chulalongkorn Hospital doctor. His wife was obstetrician Phassaporn.

The decision was delivered to the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court on Monday. It will remain sealed until next Wednesday when Wisut will be brought from Bang Kwang Central Prison to hear it read at 9am.

Weerasak Chotewanich represents the victim's father Chote Wattanachet. He was confident Wisut's appeal would fail.

The case attracted much public attention not only because of Wisut's high professional profile, but because state prosecutors originally dropped charges because Phassaporn's body was never found.

Chote Wattanachet pursued Wisut in a civil action. Public prosecutors eventually took it up again and secured a conviction.

Weerasak argued the lack of a body in the case was outweighed by the discovery of human flesh in a sewer near a Chulalongkorn University dormitory where Wisut lived.

"The time we've been waiting for has come," he said.

If the Supreme Court upholds the conviction and sentence Wisut may petition His Majesty the King to commute the sentence.

Wisut lodged a missing person's report with the Phya Thai police on February 23, 2001.

Police learned Wisut was the last person to see Phassaporn alive during a meal together at the Siam Discovery Oishi restaurant.

Police recovered parts said to be Phassaporn at Chulalongkorn University's Wittayaborikan Building and the Central Sofitel hotel in Lat Phrao.

Wisut was known to have argued with Phassaporn over property and an affair that later prompted his wife to seek a divorce.

Wisut maintains his innocence.

Kesinee Tangkhiew

The Nation