THE lawyer of an arrested police colonel held together with six other officers over the plastic bag death of a drug suspect said today (Sept. 3) that his client confirmed he has never suffered from bipolar disorder with the antidepressant found in his condo meant to help him relax, Sanook.com said.
Mr. Chokchai Angkaew, lawyer of Pol. Col. Thitisan Uttanaphon, aka Superintendent Joe Ferrari, who is facing charges of killing Mr. Jeerapong Thanapat, 24, with two plastic bags at Mueang Nakhon Sawan police station on Aug. 6, said he visited him at Phitsanulok provincial jail last week and found him to be healthy both physically and mentally.
He seemed thinner but this is normal because he is probably eating less due to concern over this case.
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Chokchai added that it is normal to take antidepressants, including the type the police team found in his client’s condo, with this medication helping people relax and sleep well without worrying about anything.
He also said that investigation officers have the right to file charges of intentionally using torture to kill another person but his team is going fight the case on the grounds of only physically harming another person but this leading to death.
While Superintendent Joe Ferrari did wrap two plastic bags over the head of the drug suspect Jeerapong leading to him suffocating to death, this was a bad mistake and he never intended to kill him, Chokchai said.
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Superintendent Joe Ferrari and six other police officers held in this case were being brought from Phisanulok jail to Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok this morning by the Crime Suppression Division police’s Hanuman SWAT (special weapons and tactics) unit. Photos: Police News
