After the discovery of the British tourists' bodies on a beach on Koh Tao, police said Hannah, from Norfolk, had been raped and bludgeoned to death while David, from Jersey, had suffered blows to his head. [79] Rumours began to circulate, with residents on the island saying the island is controlled by a mafia who "have information about the true culprits", and claimed that the police is covering for them. Valentina Novozhenova 2017; [58] Ostensibly, Wai Phyo changed jobs at the end of September and was travelling by boat to Surat Thani for his new job on the day he was arrested. [21][73], The death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment on 14 August 2020 following a royal decree to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and "illustrate the king's clemency". The family of Mr Miller from St Helier, Jersey, who was battered and drowned said after the trial of the migrants that they accepted the verdict. Those images are shocking because Till is barely recognizable as a human. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. At the end of the trial's third day, the judge said police had informed him all the samples taken on the island were "finished" - meaning they could not be analysed again. Home Office pathologist Dr Nat Cary said Miss Witheridge had died from severe head injuries, consistent with multiple blows from the blade of a hoe wielded as a weapon and it was likely she would have died 'rapidly'. Live TV coverage explained, The two go head-to-head for the fourth time already in 2023 when they meet at Anfield on Wednesday night, but the match won't be shown on television in the UK, Police recover Cheltenham Festival trophy that was stolen from Sheffield silversmiths, The Grand Annual Steeplechase Cup, the Cheltenham Festival's oldest trophy, was taken in a burglary in February but is back in safe hands in time to be presented at the showcase meeting in two weeks' time, Jeremy Clarkson responds amid speculation over Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? 11:58 GMT 20 Sep 2014 The ending of Netflix's Triptych explained, Khlo Kardashian is living her best life on TikTok, Period-proof activewear to stop the leakage fear, Harry and Meghan 'evicted' from Frogmore Cottage. The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? Ben Harrington 2012; He will join fellow French-trained runner Gold Tweet in the line-up, Sir Alex Ferguson's "brutal" Mikel Arteta advice could see "phenomenal" Arsenal star leave, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is already looking to the future and how he can build a side capable of consistent success, despite being in the middle of an intense Premier League title battle, Liverpool takeover: American billionaire who failed to buy Chelsea discusses interest, Liverpool owners FSG are looking for fresh investment at Anfield and American billionaire Stephen Pagliuca, who had an interest in buying Chelsea, weighing up a potential move. The last pictures - on night backpackers beaten to death: New CCTV revealed as Thai police investigate copycat killing theory. I dont know if the killers are still on the island. I just listened to your full podcast about Koh Tao with considerable interest. Police Commissioner General Somyot Poompanmoung said: We still dont know who did it and the killers are still on the loose. Defence lawyers had asked for the samples to be independently verified but have now been told there is nothing left of them to re-test. It will never make any sense. by potty Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:52 am, Users browsing this forum: Google Feedfetcher, Newinkow, phuketrichard, yong and 69 guests. We'll be dignified for David. Thailand is Cambodia's neighbor to the West, and this forum is dedicated to Thai news, stories, reviews, blogs, videos, Thai people and anything else related to the country. [31] Media reports speculated that was because the defence was wary of calling on foreign experts fearing it could appear as undermining the Thai justice system, and could bias the judges against their case. Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. Hannah, 23, and her friend David Miller, 24, were found dead on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. US firms waiting in the wings read to pump 'billions Parents' fury as schools STILL won't tell them if they are closed tomorrow as teacher strikes continue. The DNA analysis in the case, which was not subject to independent oversight or verification, was provided to the court as a one-page summary with four supporting pages, some of it handwritten with amendments. David Miller 2014; https://time.com/3955081/thailand-koh-tao-murder-david-miller-hannah-witheridge-zaw-lin-wai-phyo-burma-myanmar/, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/dark-side-koh-tao-seven-10708561, https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/true-crime-in-the-outdoors/tag/Cases+on+the+Death+Island+of+Koh+Tao, https://www.nist.gov/feature-stories/dna-mixtures-forensic-science-explainer. Thai courts have rejected accusations of torture and ruled that DNA evidence linked the workers to the crime. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. While Thai police are still investigating their deaths (the Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, who previously confessed have now withdrawn their confessions) shocking photos of the backpackers' bodies are now circulating online, leaving their loved ones understandably horrified and disgusted. Shelley Bot 2017; [72] The Supreme Court of Thailand upheld the sentence in August 2019, stating that the police handled the case correctly and the forensic evidence was "clear, credible, and detailed". Evidence suggests the brave 24-year-old put up a fight before his death and that he was drowned. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. Hannah died shortly before she was due to start the second year of a speech and language masters degree at the University of Essex. The Mirror reports that Hannah's family have pleaded for the photos of the pair, who were brutally murdered on a Thailand beach, to be taken off the internet. [90][91], The 2014 murders, along with other deaths and disappearances of tourists, led to British tabloids labelling Koh Tao as "Death Island". [46] The police then forced the suspects to re-enact the murder in front of media,[34] a move condemned by legal experts as prejudicing a fair hearing. Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. Six of those have since left and police colonel Kitthanes Thananunthawisin, of the Marine Police Divisions sub-division 6, said he had the names of all the boats and they were being recalled. His parents believe he was murdered. 48 TheVeneficus 5 yr. ago [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, from Jersey had been murdered on the holiday island of Koh Tao. A British male, thought to have known the two, was named as a person of interested and hunted by police after allegedly fleeing the island on an early ferry for Bangkok. Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. An English human rights activist by the name of Andy Hall asked me to put him in touch with the Melbourne forensic expert, Jane Taupin which I did. Oil City, PA (16301) Today. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. In their verdict, a panel of two judges said the death sentences handed down by lower courts would be upheld as the men had been found guilty of murder and rape on the basis of evidence and forensic results. The family said a funeral on Friday would be a private party to celebrate her life. Nick Pearson 2014; [53], The prosecution's case focused on findings of the police and medical examiner, with an emphasis on the DNA evidence. "The past three weeks have been unimaginably difficult and there are no words that can adequately describe the heartache and despair that our family is experiencing. Students Hannah and David had attended a beach party before slipping away together at around 1am on Monday. The pair insisted that they were innocent and claimed that their earlier admissions were as a result of being tortured. However he was often duped by heartless thieves, Forgotten lottery ticket in coat pocket turns out to be life-changing $1million, Ana Elizalde bought a Powerball lottery ticket in Michigan, US and gave to her husband to keep safe. Writing poignantly on the page she said: 'The past year has thrown our lives into disarray, tarnished our trust in anything and everything and made us question humanity. [15] Some migrants who were questioned complained that officers scalded them with boiling water during interrogations, allegations which were denied by the police. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. September 18: Police claim DNA from two men alongside that of Miss Witheridge has been discovered on a cigarette butt 50 yards from where the 23-year-old's body was found. As we continue with our plans for our beautiful Hannah's 'party', our thoughts are with David Miller's family who are suffering the same indescribable agony. That happened very close to my home (like, I could probably see the location if I went for a walk). He said: The police are capable of little more than extracting fines from foreigners and they are in the palms of the local big families on the island., Another added: This is the latest in a series of bungles in this investigation. Where is Morgan from the Murdaugh Murders now? Last month, the tragic revelation that backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, from Jersey had been murdered on the holiday island of Koh . Two Burmese workers, whose names were given only as Saw and Win, are said to have confessed to killing the pair, who were discovered on 15 September. Mr Miller's father told ITV News that he did not want the Burmese migrants to be executed even though they 'have done something quite terrible and justice has been given to them'. The relevant standard in this case was ISO 17025. Earlier Thai Prime Minister said it girls wearing bikinis on the holiday island of Koh Tao were not safe unless they were ugly. Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin (left) and Wai Phyo (right) last month had their murder conviction for the 2014 slayings of two British backpackers upheld by Thailand's Supreme Court. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. But they were found innocent by an all white jury. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. geez why did montriwat in his old days sprint in his knickers through town, without shoes, at 4am of the murder night ? [67][21][68] The conviction was primarily guided by the DNA evidence,[67][69] and the court said it did not consider their confessions in making the judgement. [20] Both bodies were found semi-naked;[21] a pile of clothes was found nearby. The investigation of the Witheridge and Miller slayings was widely criticized as the crime scene was not properly secured, and questions were also raised about subsequent DNA testing. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. The country's prime minister, who had been phoning the national police chief daily for updates on the investigation, said "this should not have happened at all, as it will affect Thailand in the eyes of the international community". Her post which was later removed suggested she believed that the two convicted men might be innocent. Kick-off time and live stream details, Arsenal can pull five points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race with a win over Everton, but Sean Dyche's men will provide a stern test for the Gunners, Why isn't Liverpool vs Wolves on Sky Sports or BT Sport? Only if they are not beautiful." Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. After the attack they swam to their boat and boasted to their colleagues. EXCLUSIVE: Lanzarote sticks to its guns and insists it WILL limit tourists and move away from relying on Jeremy Clarkson is axed as Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? "We'll go with the flow as much as we can. [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. [15] Public prosecutors initially rejected the report, asking for "certain flaws" to be fixed, more information to be supplied, and for the report to be made "more succinct". 2145/2559, "Two British tourists found dead on Thai island of Koh Tao", "Suspects in Thai Tourist Murders Face Dubious Trial", "Manhunt underway after brutal murder of 2 British tourists on Koh Tao", "Thailand's paradise island murder mystery", "What the Murder of Two British Tourists Tells Us About Thailand's Dark Side", "Thailand's Supreme Court upholds death penalty for men convicted of murdering British backpackers", "Koh Tao DNA evidence & international standards", "Thai court upholds death penalty for murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller", "Thailand backpacker murders: Burmese workers sentenced to death", "Thailand beach murders: A flawed and muddled investigation", "Koh Tao murders: DNA matches, confessions obtained, crime re-enacted", "Hearings Open Into Killings of Two British Tourists on Thai Island (Published 2014)", "Thai king commutes death sentence for Myanmar men in British tourist murder case", "Burmese men confess to killing British tourists on Koh Tao, Thai police say", "The Investigation Into Thailand's Backpacker Slayings Is Officially a Farce", "Migrants accused of murder of British couple in Thailand recant confessions", "Thai Dictator Faces Ire Over Murder Probe", "Koh Tao murder suspects plead not guilty", "Burmese pair to be executed for murder of British tourists on Koh Tao, Thailand", "2 Sentenced to Death in Killing of British Tourists in Thailand (Published 2015)", "Thailand murders: Two men found guilty and face death for UK killings", "Thai beach murders: Convicted men lose death sentence appeal", "Thai beach murders: Death sentence upheld by Supreme Court", "Backpacker's family 'grateful' for Thai king's clemency", "Koh Tao pair claim they were tortured before confessing", "Thai beach murders: DNA investigation into death of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller 'incompetent at best', "Koh Tao murders: suspects in killing of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge say they were framed", "Koh Tao's dark side: dangers of island where Britons were murdered", "Thai Paradise Gains Reputation as 'Death Island', "Foreign Office calls in Thai diplomat over murder inquiry concerns", "Thailand murder suspects can't have British police report: UK judge", "Thai officials on alert as Myanmar protests spread", "Prayut lashes out at Myanmar Koh Tao protestors", "Thailand's Migrant Worker Woes Exposed in Koh Tao Murder Case", "Govt vows "high-tech" defence against hackers", "Island killings prompt stiffer worker rules", "Contesting narratives: the Koh Tao tourists murders", "Unofficial translation of Koh Samui Provincial Court No. It is suggested David Miller was killed with a blunt piece of metal and not the rusty garden hoe first discovered at the scene and named as a murder weapon. Read about our approach to external linking. Ahead of Hannah's funeral on Friday, her family have released a heart-breaking statement. The picture of his mother standing over his coffin is just heart wrenching. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. Hannah and a friend were spotted on CCTV walking down the main strip of Koh Tao towards Choppers bar at 7pm on Sunday. Lining people along the beach, they measured their feet in order to make a comparison to footprints left in the sand near the murdered Brits' bodies. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Ms Taupin did note however that the document that the prosecution relied upon was an Unendorsed Report in that it had no seal or stamp certifying that it had been produced by an accredited laboratory and in accordance with international standards. On September 20, 1988, Tara Calico left her home in New Mexico to go on a bike ride she took, In November 1981, actress Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned off the coast of Southern California during a boating trip with her, In July 2014, 52 year old Lynn Messer mysteriously disappeared from her familys 260-acre farm in Bloomsdale, Missouri. This could technically be counted as a crime scene as she was DUI but the aftermath of Nikki Catsouras (Porsche girl) crash is engrained on my brain forever. A police officer told the trial of the severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been raped. I have never had the courage to look. Luke Miller 2016; His remark appeared to blame murdered Briton Hannah Witheridge for exposing herself to a brutal attack on the paradise island of Koh Tao. [42][48] Amnesty International stated that Thailand "must initiate an independent, effective and transparent investigation into mounting allegations of torture and other ill-treatment by police". We have some new leads but we dont have any new suspects.. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". Barcroft David William Miller and Hanna Victoria Witheridge Five days since the murder police are no closer to catching the killer. Have a story or an anonymous news tip for CEO? Yikes. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. Traumatizing. A 24-year-old Thai man has been arrested and charged by Thai police on the island of Koh Si Chang in Chonburi province following the brutal rape and murder of a 27-year-old German tourist on Sunday. [80][81], The Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, said "[foreign female tourists] think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like. . The defendants have repeatedly stated their innocence over the murders, with the defence alleging they were framed. The hoe was then used to knock Witheridge unconscious, after which the defendants used force to hold her down and took turns raping her, before killing her with the hoe. Them to re-test shoes, at 4am of david and hannah thailand crime scene photos severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been.. Murders may affect tourism to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy might innocent... 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