A court in Thailand sentenced three Thai women to a combined jail time of 127 years in connection with the high-profile murder of a female karaoke bar worker last year.
Priyanuch Nonwangchai, Kawita Ratchada, and Apiwan Satayabundit admitted to taking part in the killing of 23-year-old Warissara Klinjui and disposing of her corpse in Khon Kaen, northern Thailand on May 23, 2017.
Dubbed the “Murder Babes” by netizens and local media, the women reportedly murdered Klinjui before chopping up her body and dumping her remains in garbage pits.
Court documents revealed that Nonwangchai, 25, and Ratchada, 26, choked fellow prostitute Klinjui to death following a heated argument.
The two then called in Satayabundit, 28, and another friend named Wasin Namprom to mutilate the victim’s body and bury the parts in a shallow grave. After committing the gruesome crime, the three women fled to Laos and found work in massage parlors there.
After local authorities linked them to the murder, they were all arrested while out shopping for designer clothes.
As prisoners, the women generated quite a buzz in local media and online with many likening them to pop idol stars due to their good looks. They sparked controversy for the alleged special treatment from police officers who were reportedly “starstruck by the beautiful murderers.”
Pictures eventually emerged online featuring the group laughing, smoking, and posing for selfies with police officers.
Both Nonwangchai and Ratchada worked with the victim at the same bar where prostitutes could be hired. Klinjui reportedly had a falling out with the group after she reported to the police that Nonwangchai’s boyfriend was selling drugs.
To lure their victim, Nonwangchai and Ratchada picked her up in a rented car and told her that they will be discussing a potential job offer.
With some help from Ratchada, Nonwangchai strangled Klinjui to death. Satayabundit and a male friend then helped to dispose of the victim’s chopped up corpse.
Khon Kaen Court sentenced the group on Thursday with Nonwangchai and Rachada getting life in prison for conspiring to murder Klinjui, conspiring to destroy and hide her body and conspiring in a theft.However, their sentences were reduced to 34 years and six months each after confessing and cooperating.
Satayabundit, who was found guilty of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to destroy and hide the body, and taking methamphetamine, was sentenced to 33 years and nine months in jail.
Wasin Namprom, 22, the group’s male friend who helped dispose of the body, was found guilty of being an accessory to the murder, conspiring to destroy and hide the body, and conspiring in a theft. He was sentenced to 23 years, four months and 20 days.
All of them were ordered to pay 1.07 million Thailand baht ($33,600) to the victim’s family and 100,000 baht ($3,140) for her funeral.
Jidarat Promkhun, 23, who received the victim’s stolen phone to sell, was sentenced to one year in prison.
Featured Image via Nonwangchai’s original Facebook
