Footage shows the scene today (November 12) after three people were killed and two injured in a Wild West style courtroom gunfight in Thailand.

Retired policeman Thanin Chantratip, 67, was due to hear the verdict in a long-running land dispute against Wijai Sukharom, 51, just after 9am in Chanthaburi province.

But within moments of the pair arriving at court, onlookers said they began to argue.

Thanin allegedly produced a Glock 22 handgun from his waist and opened fire, killing Wijai, who had also accused the former cop of perjury.

A court policeman allegedly returned fire in the melee and shot Thanin, who was the defendant. He died later in hospital.

A lawyer involved in the case, Bancha Porameesanaporn, had previously worked with former Man City owner Thaksin Shinawatra's daughter, Yingluck Shinawatra, according to local media. He was also pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.

A second lawyer later died and two others, including the claimant's wife, Supaporn, were in critical condition after the drama at the provincial court in Chanthaburi in the east of the country.

Police Major General Charan Jitchuejun, the Deputy Commander of Chanthaburi Police, said an investigation had been opened into the shooting.

He added: ''We are sure that the culprit is Mr Thanin Chantratip and that the victim was his rival in court. The injured parties were the wife of the victim and two other lawyers."

''The cause of the dispute was a civil lawsuit relating to land which has been going on for more than 10 years."

''Three people were dead and two were injured from gunshot wounds.''

Suriyan Hongwilai, the spokesman for the Court of Justice, said the shooting happened before a judge had entered the courtroom. He added that the two sides had often argued with each other at past hearings.

Footage shows the scene today after three people were killed and two injured in a Wild West style courtroom gunfight in Thailand.

Retired policeman Thanin Chantratip, 67, was due to hear the verdict in a long running land dispute against Wijai Sukharom, 51, just after 9am in Chanthaburi province.

But within moments of the pair arriving at court, onlookers said they began to argue.

Thanin allegedly produced a Glock .22 handgun from his waist and opened fire, killing Wijai, who had also accused the former cop of perjury.

A court policeman allegedly returned fire in the melee and shot Thanin,who was the defendant. He died later in hospital.

A lawyer involved in the case, Bancha Porameesanaporn, had previously worker with former Man City owner Thaksin Shinawatra's daughter, Yingluck Shinawatra, according to local media. He was also pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.

A second lawyer later died and two others, including the claimant's wife, Supaporn, are in critical conditions after the drama at the provincial court in Chanthaburi in the east of the country.

Police Major General Charan Jitchuejun, the Deputy Commander of Chanthaburi Police, said an investigation had been opened into the shooting.

He added: ''We are sure that the culprit is Mr Thanin Chantratip and that the victim was his rival in court. The injured parties were the wife of the victim and two other lawyers.

''The cause of the dispute is a civil lawsuit relating to land which has been going on for more than 10 years.

''Three people are dead and currently two are injured from gun shot wounds.''

Suriyan Hongwilai, spokesman for the Court of Justice, said the shooting happened before a judge had entered the courtroom. He added that the two sides had often argued with each other at past hearings.