Thai woman blames French lover for murder
THE Thai woman and the Frenchman charged with murdering and burning the body of her Italian husband in Phichit province were today (Jan. 30) questioned and taken for crime reenactment with the woman fully blaming the Frenchman for the crime, the Thai-language daily Matichon reported.
Ms Ruchira Klailamai, 38, and Amaury Rigaud, 34, her new French lover, were arrested separately at a longan orchard at the border between Tak and Kamphaeng Phet provinces and brought back to central Phichit province’s Bang Narang district for further investigation in the murder and burning of the body of her Italian husband Giuseppe de Stefani, 62, on Jan. 19.
Pol. Col. Chaisathien Maneechak, the head of Bang Narang police station, said the two suspects were questioned and taken to point out the crime scene and reenact the crime at 5 spots earlier today.
He added that police are expanding their investigation to find out whether others are involved in the murder as Ruchira is keeping silent and fully blames Rigaud.
According to her confession to the police, she and De Stefani had broken up after she got pregnant but his grown son from his first marriage would not accept the child she was carrying. She then got an abortion, and met up with Rigaud and was living with him, when De Stefani sent her money to try to patch up with her, but she did not tell him about her new lover.
Upon flying to Thailand and finding out about her new relationship, De Stefani and her had a bad quarrel so she and Rigaud moved out to live in another house.
However on Jan. 18 she told police that De Stefani called the two of them to a meeting to settle the matter, and during this meeting he got very angry and said he had bought her for 100,000 baht and beat her up with his hands. She added that Rigaud could not stand this so slashed him in the head twice.
However Rigaud earlier denied killing the Italian man and burning his body, saying Ruchira committed this crime and he only helped her escape because he was concerned about her.
He also told police that Ruchira, her former Thai husband and some other Thais who whose identity he does not know killed the Italian man.
CAPTION:
Top: Ruchira and Rigaud reenacting the murder of her Italian husband today. Photo: Matichon
In-text: Ruchira and Rigaud being escorted to the police station. Photo: Matichon
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