Wannee and Wanna

The sister of the slain wife of Dr Pipat Luaprasitkul yesterday denied she and other relatives had received money from Pipat in return for not cooperating with police who are investigating him.

Wanna Sakulthong, the sister of Wannee Luaprasitkul, said she did not know Wannee had been severely beaten on the night of July 17, and she and her mother had never been offered money by Pipat to keep silent.

Wanna came out to defend herself and her mother after police said it was suspicious that Wannee's relatives would not cooperate with investigators in the manslaughter case against Pipat. "I've never thought about making money from the dead body of my sister," she said.

Wanna said she had received a call from Pipat saying her sister had had an accident. She said her sister was still conscious, although she was sitting face-down at a desk. She noticed that Wannee had head injuries and bruised lips and smelled of alcohol, she said.

"I raised her head and felt her breath with my hand. I asked if she would like to go to the hospital, but she did not say anything and just shook her head. I thought she was drunk," Wanna said.