Parents of British boy Woramet Ben Taota beaten to death break down in tears as he is laid to rest in Thailand
A British boy beaten to death by a drug dealer in Thailand was laid to rest today in a moving Buddhist ceremony.
Woramet Ben Taota, 16, was lured to his death by a friend who had come under the spell of Chaitwat Boogarin, a convicted child-sex offender.
His father, Steven Graham, angrily confronted the murderer last week as police staged a reconstruction of the brutal killing in the jungle outside Lampang, in the north of the country.
He screamed: ‘Look me in the eyes, you b*****d!’
Today the successful business from East Sussex, and Ben’s Thai mother Ooy, broke down in tears as they led mourners at a traditional Buddhist cremation in the lush countryside where he grew up.
Dozens of mourners joined Ben’s devastated parents to pay their respects to the popular 16-year-old in an emotional funeral procession through the rural village of Banjua, near Lampang.
Dressed all in back, Steven appeared lost in his grief as he walked alone surrounded by friends and family on the heart-breaking two-mile march to the temple.
Ben’s mother Ooy walked at the front of the cortege, surrounded by her sisters, who had been like second mothers to the cherished boy.
The youngster’s remains were carried in a brightly-coloured Thai funeral carriage, some 25 ft tall.
Ben’s friends from the Sop Prop Motorcycle Club led the way, revving the engines of the motocross bikes that the young Briton loved to ride in the surrounding countryside.
Storm clouds gathered around the Buddhist temple as the mourners reached their destination.
In the days following Ben’s death Steve and Ooy have received hundreds of well-wishers at their country home, that offers views to jungle covered mountains and is surrounded by paddy fields.
Buddhists monks had lead prayers for the past two night, chanting for up to an hour, in karmic rhythm.