Thai court says unclear who shot Reuters cameraman

The 43-year-old Japanese video journalist on assignment from Tokyo was shot on 10 April 2010 while covering political violence. Thai soldiers armed with live ammunition and rubber bullets fired into the crowd to dislodge protesters from encampments. The army had accused protesters of firing live rounds and throwing grenades during the clashes.

Thailand's Department of Special Investigation released a report in 2011 saying Muramoto's death did not appear to have been caused by security forces, a reversal of preliminary findings that raised questions over whether authorities were trying to absolve the military.

On Thursday, the Bangkok South Criminal Court said its own inquest could lay no blame. "It is not known who committed the action" since investigators could not determine the specific type of weapon or bullet or trajectory the shot was fired from, according to the inquest.

The court said it could determine only that Muramoto was killed by a high-velocity bullet that entered his upper left chest and exited from the back of his right arm.

He was one of two journalists killed during the 10 weeks of protests and street clashes in Bangkok, with certain areas declared "live fire" zones by the military. Former army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha is now Thailand's prime minister.

Jesada Chandee, a lawyer for the families of Muramoto and two protesters also killed on the same day, called the court's finding unexpected. "We respect the court's orders but his family still wants to issue an appeal because they believe that witnesses and evidence can determine how their family member died," he said.

"Reuters continues to mourn the loss of our respected video journalist, Hiro Muramoto," company spokesman David Crundwell said. "The safety of our journalists is our highest priority and we take every precaution we can to ensure it." ■