A woman caught up in gambling killed more than 12 people, including her close friend, by giving them cyanide. A Thai court sentenced her to death.

Bangkok: The court has sentenced to death a woman who killed more than twelve people including her close friend by poisoning them with cyanide to raise money for gambling. The Bangkok court has given this verdict in this serial murder case that shook Thailand. This is the first verdict from the court in a case of murder by cyanide. Sararat Rangsivutthaporn killed her close friend last year by mixing poison in her food. After this, she also usurped the friend's land worth more than four lakhs. She committed this murder when she asked for the loan back.

The gambling addict committed murders and robberies to pay off her debts. The Bangkok court pronounced the sentence on Wednesday after a hearing that lasted more than three hours. The case attracted nationwide attention because of her relationship with her ex-husband, who was a police officer. She was pregnant when she was arrested last May on suspicion of murdering a friend. As the case gained momentum, the police began investigating cases of unusual deaths linked to Sararat. A woman named Siriporn Khanwong was Sararat's last victim. Siriporn's postmortem report revealed the presence of cyanide in her body. After this, the police investigated the cases of people who died after eating and drinking alcohol with Sararat.

Meanwhile, a woman who was poisoned by Sararat but barely survived testified against Sararat. She told the police that Sararat had a good relationship with her ex-husband, who is a police officer, so she did not even try to complain. Sararat has been charged with murder, conspiracy and robbery. During the trial of the case, Sararat refused to testify or confess her crime even once.

When the court was pronouncing the verdict, the relatives of the victims were crying bitterly, but the woman stood unconcerned. During the entire hearing, Sararat kept smiling and talking to her lawyers. The court has also sentenced Sararat's ex-husband. Her ex-husband has been sentenced to one and a half years in prison for contacting the public prosecutor to destroy evidence against Sararat.

PC:Asianetnews