The high-velocity bullet which killed Italian photojournalist Fabio Polenghi during the May 19, 2010 crackdown on redshirt protesters came from the side of the Army, the Criminal Court said Wednesday. However, the court said it was unclear who killed Polenghi.
It is believed that the bullet which killed the deceased came from the direction of [army] officers who were moving to take control [of Ratchaprasong Intersection] from Sala Daeng area [of Silom] … but it's unclear as to who did it," part of the inquest finding stated.
The court said the bullet was most likely a .223 highvelocity bullet used by soldiers from the Second Calvary Unit stationed in Sala Daeng as troops were authorised to also use live bullets that included .223 bullets on that day, the judges said.
The bullet shattered Polenghi's liver and lung, said the judges, who added that there was no evidence that anyone but the army had such weapons in the area on that day.
Elisabetta Polenghi, sister of the slain photojournalist, said after the inquest that there was no "closure" for the tragedy yet since no one had been held responsible. She said that while she did not want the killer or the person who ordered the use of live ammunition to be sentenced to death or even to prison, she wanted some form of accountability.