Taxi driver indicted in grisly double murder

Siriphong Kanjananiwit protested his innocence on two charges of sexual molestation of a minor and restraint of freedom. But case prosecutor Yongyuth Srisattayachon said he pleaded guilty to five other charges: two counts of murder, attempted murder, armed robbery at night, hiding and mutilating a body, and carrying a firearm without permission.

The maximum penalties for all his crimes, if he is found guilty, is a death sentence for the double murders, but Yongyuth said it would depend on the judges' decision whether to reduce or commute the death sentence or reduce other penalties given his surrender and confession.

The suspect will appear at a Criminal Court hearing to submit his plea on Monday.

Yongyuth said the key prosecution witness was Phichaya Jongngarmwilai, a daughter of Sunan Srisusan, and a half sister of Cho Makino, a five-year-old born to Phichaya's Japanese ex-husband. The boy was shot four times, decapitated and had body dismembered into 12 pieces. All the body parts were dumped in five plastic bags.

The discovery of the plastic bags on October 12, and the previous discovery of a woman's body on October 10, led to an intensive police investigation, and later to part-time taxi driver Siriphong revealing himself and confessing his crimes.