Article 248 — Postponing Execution for Insanity
Texte légal (original thaï)
ถ้าบุคคลซึ่งต้องคำพิพากษาให้ประหารชีวิตเกิดวิกลจริตก่อนถูกประหารชีวิต ให้รอการประหารชีวิตไว้ก่อนจนกว่าผู้นั้นจะหาย ขณะทุเลาการประหารชีวิตอยู่นั้น ศาลมีอำนาจยกมาตรา ๔๖ วรรค
(๒) แห่งกฎหมายลักษณะอาญามาบังคับถ้าผู้วิกลจริตนั้นหายภายหลังปีหนึ่งนับแต่วันคำพิพากษาถึงที่สุด ให้ลดโทษประหารชีวิตลงเหลือจำคุกตลอดชีวิต
traduction anglaise
If a person sentenced to death becomes insane before being executed, the execution shall be postponed until that person recovers. During the postponement of the execution, the court has power to apply section 46, paragraph (2), of the Criminal Law. If the insane person recovers after one year from the date the judgment became final, the death sentence shall be reduced to life imprisonment.
Cette traduction anglaise est fournie à titre indicatif uniquement et n'a pas encore été vérifiée de manière définitive ; référez-vous toujours à l'original thaï.
Annotation de l'entreprise
Section 248 complements section 247 by addressing insanity arising after a capital sentence but before execution, again within the Chapter on execution of judgment. Execution is stayed until recovery, and the court may apply a measure from the former Criminal Law during the stay. A one-year cut-off protects the condemned: recovery beyond one year from finality of the judgment converts the death sentence into life imprisonment by operation of law.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
The practical significance is that mental illness after sentencing does not merely delay an execution; if it lasts long enough it changes the punishment. Once recovery comes more than a year after the judgment is final, life imprisonment replaces death automatically, so the timing of any recovery is legally decisive.
Foire aux questions
What happens if a person becomes insane before being executed?
Under section 248 the execution is postponed until the person recovers, and the court may apply a measure from the former Criminal Law during the postponement.
Can a death sentence become life imprisonment because of insanity?
Yes. If the person recovers more than one year after the judgment became final, section 248 reduces the death sentence to life imprisonment.