a liaison who brought on the capabilities of DNA experts from Ramathibodi's pathology department. The case introduced the Thai public to the field of forensic medicine, and Porntip became a celebrity and one of the field's foremost public faces. It also marked a turning point that would lead Porntip to push for the creation of the Central Institute of Forensic Science under the Ministry of Justice. Trial and conviction As the case was brought to trial in 1999, Serm recanted his confession to the police, claiming that it had been made under duress. Coincidentally, however, two snakes entered the roof space at the Charansanitwong house of Serm's friend, leading to the discovery of a bag containing Jenjira's belongings that had been hidden there, and Serm subsequently pleaded guilty. He was convicted of premeditated murder, unnecessarily firing a gun in an urban area, destruction of a corpse, theft of property, and possessing a firearm licensed to another. He received the death penalty, which was commuted to life imprisonment for his confession. The case was appealed by Jenjira's mother and Serm, and the Court of Appeal found the murder to also have been committed in a cruel manner, passing the same sentence. The case was brought to the Supreme Court, where the prosecution argued against the sentence reduction while Serm's defence argued that the act was committed in the heat of passion due to being provoked by Jenjira's wanting to end their relationship. The court's judgement in October 2003 overturned the Court of Appeal's decision, but found Serm's defence untenable as it unsatisfactorily explained how he could have committed the crime and disposed of the body undetected had the murder not been planned. The Supreme Court reinstated the Court of First Instance's conviction and the sentence of death commuted to life imprisonment. In its judgement, the Supreme Court included in its opinion a consideration of the meaning of love: Love arises from the heart. It cannot be forced. True love is goodwill towards the one a person loves, gladness when that one is glad, forgiveness when that one does wrong, and sacrifice of one's own happiness for that one's sake. The Defendant wished to take possession of the Deceased for his own sake. When refused, he killed her. These were thoughts and acts of selfishness and covetousness by the Defendant, with no heed given to the Deceased's heart and feelings. This was