“The old verdicts dismissed the idea of a suicide and ruled that it was regicide,” Kungwal told the court.
“New evidence I bring will show differently,” he said, referring to new findings that include ballistic tests he conducted in December with a retired police forensic expert that he says prove the king shot himself with his own gun.
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, son of the late King Bhumibol, greets supporters with with Queen Suthida in Bangkok in 2020.Credit: AP
Other findings include tests which disputed original investigation’s conclusion that a bullet, found in a mattress in the king’s bedroom, was planted, as well as new examinations, conducted last year by a forensic doctor, that Kungwal says prove the king shot himself.
Reuters did not view the test results and could not independently verify Kungwal’s claims. Wasukit Thanurat, the forensic expert, and Krittin Meewuttisom, the forensic doctor, were not immediately available for comment, though both testified in court on Friday.
The four judges who presided over the hearing have scheduled May 3 for another session to question Kungwal before they send the case to the appeals court which will decide whether or not to reopen the case, said Kongsak Dejkoonmak, its presiding lawyer.
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Over two dozen books have been written over the decades about the death of King Ananda, with several scholars challenging the official narrative on the grounds that the investigation was not transparent and was mired by the politics of the day.
Some of the books were published and distributed in Thailand, mostly in the 1970s, others were banned by the authorities. The Southeast Asian country has a strict lèse-majesté law that prescribes up to 15 years jail for defaming or insulting the monarchy.
Kungwal petitioned the court last October to revive the case on behalf of the relatives of Chit Singhaseni, one of the palace officials executed.
Watsatarn Kittipinyo, Chit’s granddaughter, was present in court on Thursday. She told Reuters that she has no expectations from the case other than a hope that her grandfather’s name could be cleared.
Kungwal also told Reuters that he petitioned the palace for its view on reopening the case but received no response.
The palace did not respond to a request for comment.
Reuters