Retired Norwegian Stein Havard Dokset arrested and taken into custody.
A retired Norwegian man living in a villa in Kata, Thailand, was taken into custody after the lower part of a decomposed body was discovered in a locked bathroom bin. Stein Haavard Dokset denied all knowledge of the body, which was so decayed that forensic scientists were unable to identify the gender of the victim. Dokset was charged with possession of a gun without a permit, and police suspect the body may belong to Rungnapa Rachsombat, also known as Rungnapa Suktong, who disappeared three years ago. A 9mm pistol registered to Ms Rungnapa was found in Dokset's study, along with two magazines and 58 bullets, and a handbag belonging to her. The upper part of the body is still missing, and police are investigating the case.
As part of their investigation, police called for a vacuum truck to suck out the contents of a septic tank at the property, after finding that one of the toilets in the house was blocked. Although the half body has not yet been identified, police suspect it may be that of Rungnapa Rachsombat, who lived with Mr Dokset for six years before breaking up with him and subsequently disappearing.
The body in the bathroom.
Police in Thailand found rotted human remains in a bathroom in a Norwegian expat's eight-bedroom villa in Kata. Police initially thought the remains comprised only the bottom half of a body, but they have since concluded that the body is complete. The identity of the dead person has yet to be established, but police suspect the corpse is that of Rungnapa Rachsombat, the former girlfriend of the owner of the house, Norwegian retiree Stein Håvard Dokset.
Rungnapa Rachsombat's mother has given a blood sample, and her DNA will be compared with samples taken from the corpse to establish whether it is her daughter's body. The Royal Thai Police Forensics Department has said the results from the DNA tests could take up to a month to complete. Mr. Dokset is currently detained at Chalong Police station and is facing charges of possessing a firearm illegally and hiding a dead body.
Norwegian admits involvement in 'body in bin' death.
Stein Havard Dokset, whose eight bedroom villa in Kata was where police found a rotted corpse, has admitted to involvement in the death of his former live in girlfriend, Rungnapa Rachsombat. The body, found in a plastic bag inside a municipal garbage bin, and locked in one of the eight bathrooms of the house on Khoktanod Rd, had not been identified yet but police had suspected it to be Rachsombat who was reported missing some three years ago. Dokset confessed to police that they had a fierce argument, which resulted in Rachsombat falling down the stairs from the middle floor to the ground floor of the three-story house, and dying.
Aug 2012, Dokset denies house of horror charges.
The Norwegian retiree who was arrested in February after police found the rotting body of his ex-girlfriend, Rungnapa Suktong, in a garbage bin in a bathroom of his house in Kata, appeared in court on July 30 to deny all charges against him. Dokset faces charges of murder, illegal possession of a gun, and obstructing an investigation by hiding a body and denying any knowledge of it, even though DNA tests confirmed the remains were of Ms. Rungnapa.
His next hearings before the Phuket Provincial Court are scheduled for February and March of next year, and he has not requested bail. Dokset claimed that Ms. Rungnapa died during an argument with him, and he denies killing her, saying that he pushed her, and her head hit a wall.
Feb 2013, Dokset offers to pay compensation.
The murder trial began on February 12, 2013. The first witness to testify was Nirut Rittikul, the brother of Dokset's ex-girlfriend Rungnapa Suktong, whose decomposing body was found in Dokset's house. Nirut Rittikul said that Dokset offered to pay B5 million to the family and B4.3 million for the care of Rungnapa's three sons. Dokset denied charges of murder, illegal possession of a gun, and obstructing an investigation. The trial continued with prosecution testimony on February 22, and the defense presented its case on March 8.
Aug 2013, Murder trial hears forensic evidence about body found in bin.
He appeared in Phuket Provincial Court for the latest hearing in the "body in the bin" murder case against him. Dokset is accused of murdering his Thai girlfriend, Rungnapa "June" Suktong, and leaving her body rotting in a garbage bin in a bathroom of his home for three years. He denies the murder and asserts that her death was accidental. Only one of the four witnesses was able to appear in court. The case was adjourned until November 8, and Dokset's new lawyer may present witnesses on that date. Dokset is not satisfied with the hearing and intends to prove that he opened the door for the police, not they themselves, as the witness claimed.
Nov 2014, murder suspect claims girlfriend's death was accidental.
Stein Havard Dokset appeared in court today and reiterated that he did not intend to kill his partner, Rungnapa "June" Ratchasombut. Dokset admitted that he was emotional and aggressive during the time of the incident, but that the victim had died as the result of an accident.
He denied the charge of possessing a gun without a permit, claiming that the gun found at his residence had belonged to the victim. The hearing concluded with a settlement agreed upon, whereby Dokset would compensate the victim's three children with a total of 1.8 million baht. The judge is expected to bring in his verdict in January next year.
Jan 2015, Norwegian man sentenced to nine years for 'body in bin' murder case.
The Norwegian has been sentenced to a total of nine years in jail for unintentionally killing his partner, Rungnapa "June" Ratchasombut, and attempting to hide her body in a bin in his home in Kata, Phuket. Dokset pleaded guilty to both accusations, resulting in the halving of his sentences. However, he denied illegal possession of a gun, resulting in an additional year of imprisonment.
In addition to the jail time, Dokset has been ordered to pay B500,000 compensation to each of June's two children, with a further B400,000 each for her mother and father. The compensation will be paid from the proceeds of the sale of the house in Kata. The family's lawyer stated that the family is happy with the verdict and compensation.
Dokset's lawyer has not yet decided whether to appeal the verdict or sentence. Dokset was originally charged with murder, but he maintained that June's death was accidental, coming in the middle of a furious row that became physical.
There have been no further updates on the case of Stein Havard Dokset since his sentencing on January 29, 2015. It is unclear whether he appealed the verdict or whether he has completed his sentence.