july 2017, after failed suicide attempt, German Nico Papke charged in hospital.
The authorities have officially filed charges against Nico Papke for the murder of his girlfriend, Pischa Nampadung. The lifeless body of the victim was discovered abandoned in the Phuket jungle on Sunday. As he lay in his hospital bed, an officer from Chalong Police Station confirmed that the charges had been read to him.
In addition to the murder charge, Papke has also been accused of concealing the victim's body. Following his attempted suicide by slashing his own throat with a box cutter during his arrest at his rented home in Rawai's Saiyuan area, the German suspect remains under tight police supervision at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
From his hospital bed, he expressed his emotions, stating, "Of course, I love Lek. She always told me to stay strong." During the interview, he appeared gloomy as he revealed that he and Pischa, also known as "Lek," had been in an "unstable relationship" for approximately three to four months. He mentioned a heated argument that took place on the night she went missing, explaining, "Lek borrowed THB 20,000 from me, claiming it was related to a car. However, she later told me that she no longer had feelings for me and that she missed her Israeli ex-boyfriend."
When asked directly about his involvement in her death, he refused to provide an answer.
Authorities have expressed concerns about Papke attempting to flee custody. Sgt. Rashen Chookaew informed reporters that during the night shift, officers monitoring he witnessed him staring into space for an extended period, raising suspicions of a potential escape plan. As a result, extra guards have been deployed to ensure his confinement during his hospitalization.
Meanwhile, a one day funeral service for her, a native of Kamphaeng Phet province, took place at Chalong Temple. Thai and foreign friends, as well as local residents from Rawai and Chalong, paid their respects.
Juli 2017, German startling confession in the Phuket murder of his girlfriend.
In a dramatic turn of events, the expat confessed to the killing of his girlfriend, Pischa "Lek" Nampadung, a 35 year old beautician. Her lifeless body had been discovered wrapped in blankets and abandoned in the Phuket jungle on July 9.
The confession took place at Chalong Police Station after he was transported under heavy guard from Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he had been recovering following a suicide attempt with a box cutter during his arrest on the same day. Initially, Papke, a 35 year old fitness instructor, had denied the accusation when informed of his arrest for Pischa's murder while still in the hospital.
Police formally charged him with the murder of Pischa and the concealment of her body.
Papke, dressed in a black T shirt and grey track pants, was escorted into the police station while still handcuffed and under the watchful eyes of three officers. Quiet and sullen, the suspect was interrogated by Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col. Witoon Kongsudjai and Lt. Chanat Hongsittichaikul of Chalong Police, the lead investigator on the case. A lawyer provided by the German embassy and an interpreter were present to assist Papke in answering the questions.
"Lt. Chanat confirmed that he confessed to killing her. He cried," stated the official report. Following the confession, the police accompanied him to his rented house in Rawai, where the murder took place, as well as to the jungle location where Pischa's body was discovered. Authorities have yet to disclose the specific details of Pischa's murder or clarify the presence of blood stains on the mattress in her rented room in Chalong.
Forensic experts, called in to aid the investigation, discovered blood stains in Papke's rented car and sent samples for DNA testing as crucial evidence. He will remain in custody at the cells of Phuket Provincial Court until he is summoned to face the charges in court.
Sept 2018, expat sentenced to eight years in prison for killing girlfriend.
German national, a 36-year-old fitness instructor residing in Phuket, has received a sentence of more than eight years in jail for the murder of his girlfriend. Additionally, he was convicted of stealing her ATM card and a drugs-related offense. Papke, originally from Altdöbern, was apprehended for the murder of Ms. Pischa on July 11 last year, after her body was discovered abandoned in the Wichit jungle two days earlier.
Her body was found wrapped in blankets and bound with tape alongside the road, approximately 600 meters into the newly graded track leading into the jungle north of the cement factory on Muang Chaofa Rd. After his arrest at his rented home in Soi Saiyuan, Rawai, on July 9, he attempted to slash his own throat with a box cutter, prompting his hospitalization at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The charges were read to Papke while he was still recovering from the incident.
Piravut Bumrung from the Phuket Provincial Prosecutor's Office, who served as the prosecutor for the case, confirmed that the imposed sentence totaled "16 years and 16 months" in prison. "The decision by the judge to sentence him to 16 years and 16 months in prison was for murder, theft, and drugs," stated Mr. Piravut.
Although the exact charges pressed against him in court were not disclosed, Mr. Piravut mentioned that Papke confessed to all charges, resulting in a halving of his sentence across the board. Regarding the trial details, Mr. Piravut declined to provide further information, citing that it falls under "judge information," suggesting to consult the court's judgment for additional insights.