KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasBuddhist Funeral Held for Cab Driver
Suspect James Scholl(Aug. 27) -- Friends and family, and even strangers came to say goodbye to a murdered cab driver Friday. The Palm Mortuary was filled with taxis for the funeral of 51-year-old Paul Chitprasart.
It was a traditional Buddhist ceremony, mostly conducted in Thai. Chitprasart picked up 33-year-old James Scholl in his taxi-cab last Friday. Police say when he refused to give the man his money, Scholl doused him with a flammable liquid and set him on fire.
James Scholl was caught after he bragged to friends about the crime.
"It's more than outrage actually. I know he'll go through the justice system, and he will be punished. And I do believe that there should be protection of the cab drivers out there," said Vicenta Montoya, the victim's friend.
Two local cab companies are testing cameras in the cabs to see if they will help prevent crime. Many cab drivers believe the incident could have been prevented, if cameras were required to be installed in all cabs.
Henderson and Wittlesee Blue taxi companies are only test running the cameras in the cabs right now. Some cab drivers say that state legislators should make it a law, that all cabs have cameras as well as a plastic barrier, that would separate customers from the driver
(Aug. 24) -- Friends and family gathered to remember an innocent man killed in a violent crime. Pairoj Chitprasart was a taxi cab driver who was set on fire Friday night by a robber. Tuesday morning Chitprasart died from his injuries.
"No more pain, so I just tell him I love you, I love you," says Oey Sawyer, Chitprasart's girlfriend through tears.
Sawyer is left heartbroken and numb. She was called to the hospital just after 3 a.m. and told her boyfriend Pairoj Chitprasart died. For three days he lay in critical condition with third degree burns on 70 % of his body. She begged him to be strong by telling him, "Try to fight for it, don't leave us. Stay with me, stay with the boy."
The 51-year-old taxi driver was set on fire by a man who pretended to need a ride. Police say instead, James Scholl robbed him and set him on fire. The victim's 14-year-old son David can't make sense of it, but he knows what he wants for the suspect.
"To stay in jail for the rest of his life," David said.
Prayer chants and the smell of incense flow from the Thai Buddhist temple where Chitprasart worshipped. It's especially difficult for family friends who knew Chitprasart wanted to quit his job.
"He's getting to the point where he wants to get out, he wants something less dangerous, he's thinking of his family and his son," said Susie Payakniti, a family friend.
"I want to ask him why he did that? Why, he pick Pairoj and why he was so mean? Why he was so mean? Did he have a heart?" asks Sawyer.
District Attorney David Roger has decided to prosecute this case himself. Roger only takes on a one or two cases a year, but he felt that there was so much public outrage in this case, that he wanted to handle it.
Pairoj Chitprasart had third degree burns to over 70-percent of his body. He died at UMC. He is survived by his 14-year-old son. Donations are being accepted in David's name. More>>
