BANGKOK — A 14-year-old has been taken into custody following allegations that he fatally stabbed a Thai-Australian schoolmate during a dispute stemming from an ongoing rivalry, according to Thai police officials on Friday.
The accused shared with investigators that there was a mutual animosity between him and the victim, which had its roots in their school environment. They arranged to meet in person outside a grocery store close to their homes in Sattahip, located in Chonburi province, using the Line messaging application, stated police Col. Tanapol Klinkesorn, who oversees the local police station.
During the encounter, the suspect reportedly struggled against the victim, who was larger in stature. However, after losing the fight, the suspect quickly retrieved a cooking knife from his vehicle and stabbed the victim in the back, Tanapol detailed.
Both boys were 14 years old; the accused was in the eighth grade, while the victim was in the seventh. Due to their ages, the police refrained from disclosing their identities, but they confirmed that the Australian Embassy verified the victim’s dual nationality.
According to the Sawang Rojanatham Rescue Foundation, which dispatched EMS workers to the scene, the victim was discovered lying at the entrance of the grocery store with the knife embedded in his back, and the handle had broken off.
Tanapol noted that the suspect, along with his parents, turned himself in to the Sattahip police approximately one hour after the incident occurred.
He faces charges related to causing fatal bodily harm and possessing a weapon. He was released on bail set at 10,000 baht (around $295) by the Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court on Wednesday. Authorities indicated that the maximum penalty under the charges could be up to 15 years in prison and that their investigation remains ongoing.
While youth violence is not uncommon in Thailand, serious incidents involving fatalities typically occur among older school rival factions.
Sattahip is situated roughly 114 kilometers (71 miles) southeast of Bangkok, the nation’s capital.
