Phuket body in bin hearings postponed to November

Norwegian Stein Havard Dokset, accused of murder in the infamous “body in the bin” case, appeared briefly in court on Friday, with his case being adjourned until November 21.

Lawyers for the prosecution and defence have been told that, before that date, they must hold discussions to come to an agreement on how much Dokset should pay for the living costs and education of Ms Rungnapa’s three children.

Dokset was arrested on February 28 last year after a tip-off that Ms Rungnapa’s body was stashed in his house. She had not been seen for the best part of three years.

A police search of the building turned up a wheelie bin in a downstairs bedroom, containing rotted remains that were proven by DNA tests to be those of Ms Rungnapa.

Dokset has denied charges of murder, illegal possession of a gun (Ms Rungnapa’s) and obstructing an investigation by hiding a body and denying any knowledge of it.

He denies murdering her, saying that she died during an argument with him, when he pushed her and her head hit a wall.

Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet in February this year quoted Ms Rungnapa’s brother, Nirut Rittikul, as saying that he had been approached by Dokset’s lawyers with an offer to pay B5 million to the family and another B4.3 million for the care of the three children.

Phuket News

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