Ex-Thai police chief convicted of suspect killing

A former Thai police chief has been sentenced to life in jail after being found guilty of murder by torture, in a case that sparked national outrage over police brutality.

(BBC) A former Thai police chief has been sentenced to life in jail after being found guilty of murder by torture, in a case that sparked national outrage over police brutality.

Thitisan Utthanaphon was nicknamed Joe Ferrari for his many luxury cars.

In August, he was arrested after a leaked video surfaced showing him and colleagues wrapping plastic bags around the head of a 24-year-old drug suspect during an interrogation.

The suspect later died.

On Wednesday, a Thai court found the 41-year-old guilty of murder by torture and sentenced him to death. However the death sentence was immediately reduced to life imprisonment.

The court cited his attempts to revive the suspect, Jirapong Thanapat, and that he had paid for the funeral expenses for the family.

Five of the six other officers involved in the interrogation were also convicted of murder and given life sentences. A seventh received a smaller sentence due to his testimony.

The father of the victim said he felt "helpless during the ruling, and my wife was crying," AFP news agency reported.

Jakkrit Klandi said outside the court on Wednesday: "All seven officers should learn their lesson and pay for their crime."

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