[64], Several CCTV cameras near the crime scene were reported to be nonfunctional, and cameras near the pier were not checked by the police. 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 was just straight up sped that killed her. She said that Hannah had originally planned to go to Europe or Australia before making a late decision to go to Thailand. Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. Luke Miller, a bricklayer from the Isle of Wight, was then found dead in a pool on the island in 2016 with Thai police saying there was no evidence of foul play, despite his family saying they had received conflicting reports of events before his death. Traumatizing. The discovery of the bodies last September sparked a major police investigation and intense local and international pressure to find those responsible. She allowed Jet magazine to print pictures of his dead body. High 62F. The commissioner visited the murder scene yesterday but his officers were criticised after smiling and taking selfies. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. They believe she was murdered while trying to escape from a Buddhist cult. Ben Harrington 2012; [15], Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo retracted their statements following a visit from a consular lawyer for Myanmar and said they had made their statements under duress, after they had allegedly been beaten, left naked in a freezing room, and threatened with electrocution and an extrajudicial killing. He was last night accused of smearing a murdered British backpacker to protect his countrys tourism industry. It was later revealed the couple in the images were not Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller. Christina Annesley 2015; When the bodies of British tourists 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller were found brutally murdered on the remote Thai island of Koh Tao, the police immediately concluded that the killer had to be a foreigner, as a Thai person couldn't be capable of such brutality. Those images are shocking because Till is barely recognizable as a human. His remark appeared to blame murdered Briton Hannah Witheridge for exposing herself to a brutal attack on the paradise island of Koh Tao. Rex Features. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. A lot of expats have both lived and worked in Cambodia and Thailand, and this area is a place to discuss all aspects of life in Thailand and what's going on there. Earlier Thai Prime Minister said it girls wearing bikinis on the holiday island of Koh Tao were not safe unless they were ugly. [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. I should add that I was not representing the accused men so I am not presenting arguments on their behalf in any lawyer/client relationship. [38] Police entered the home the next day; only one of the men, Zaw Lin, was present. ", Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Anthony Cardullo 2013 (USA); The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. [47] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission attempted to investigate the allegations, but police representatives did not appear at four scheduled meetings. In December 2015, the pair were convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. [1][11][18] A bloody hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, and a wooden club were found near the bodies,[19][4][14] along with three cigarette butts and a used condom. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 'They think it wont happen to them. But Ms Daniels criticised the 'bungled' police investigation into the murders in a Facebook post in January 2016. A mistake that many forensic experts say jeopardized the entire investigation.Throughout the investigation and criminal trial, the Thai government and police were heavily criticized by human rights organizations, legal experts, and the media. [44] In December 2014, the suspects were each indicted on five charges: premeditated murder, killing to conceal a criminal offence, rape, illegal entry into Thailand, and staying in the country without permission. Andrew Rosindell, a member of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said: 'What is most worrying about these comments is the underlying implication about those who have been murdered that they have somehow brought it upon themselves.'. 'The pain of this loss is indescribable and our family very much need time and privacy during this unbearable time.'. Two weeks later, two illegal Burmese migrant workers were blamed for the deaths, primarily on the basis of DNA evidence, and confessed following an hours-long interrogation. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. Read about our approach to external linking. Five days since the . It will never make any sense. Their bodies were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last September. Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. [1] Receiving half a million visitors each year,[1] Koh Tao is especially popular with backpackers and known for its marine life and scuba diving. The fact that she is not here, affects us every day.'. The worst part is her face. But his family said at the time that they had not received an autopsy report and had suspicions about the death. The brutal reality of seeing her like that made me physically sick and ive looked at alot of photos on that sub :/, Is there a reason I cant view them? In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. Hannah, 23, and her friend David Miller, 24, were found dead on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. Very gruesome, theres one photo of his parents looking at him in the coffin and I really cant imagine what they mustve felt knowing theyd lost their son, he was murdered for nothing, and the horrible thing they were looking at was him. 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. There were TRACES of cocaine, but that didnt contributeit was a small amount from a day or more before. Laura revealed previously how her family had been 'drop-kicked into the pits of hell itself' when Hannah was murdered. 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. "Time makes the pain of this horrendous tragedy no easier to bear," they said in a statement. At 1.26am he is recorded walking from the club, and returns at 1.57am. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. *if you admit to regrets* which is the biggest of your life. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Well, guess what? Supposedly these are the first crime scene photos ever taken. 2040 / 2557, Regional Court of Appeal VIII No. Two Ukrainian women look back at one year of war, Why you shouldn't go into TikTok's "monk mode", Pictures of Thai murder victim Hannah Witheridge's body circulate on the Internet, Cosmopolitan, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. "Our family have been further traumatised by reports that there are numerous unnecessary and senseless photographs circulating across the internet. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. Immediately after the hearing, the two migrants appealed to the families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Walker, asking them to co-operate in seeking a royal pardon from the Thai king. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Oh Yes, this one is gruesome . A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. 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. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". DO NOT go in blind. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. Officers revealed they are working on the theory that David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were killed in a copycat attack of the rape and murder of Reading University student Katherine Horton, 21, who was murdered by two Thai fishermen on the nearby island of Koh Samui on New Years Day in 2006. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. He was found hiding on the boat later on 2 October. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? Speaking at the court, Mr Miller's father Ian said he and his wife Sue had come "with an open mind", adding that it had been an emotional time for the family. Its a farce.. 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'. David and Hannah were found bludgeoned to death on this Thai beach early in September 2014, shortly beforeLin andPhyo were arrested. [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". 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They did not seal the island, contaminated the crime scene and now have allowed these boats to get away. 'On my darkest days, I think about the people who have thrown themselves out of planes, run significant distances and those who have sacrificed precious pounds from tight budgets to support us. [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. 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". You are the British Consulate in Thailand. Verdicts in the case are not expected until October. Elise Dallemagne 2017; I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. I was forced to look at these photos for a DUI class when I was 14 because I was caught smoking weed. "There has been lots of chit-chat on the internet. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a masters degree. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. [34][35], According to the prosecution in the subsequent case, CCTV footage analysed by the police showed three individuals riding a motorcycle to 7-Eleven, where they bought beer and cigarettes, before going towards Sairee Beach. DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. In an extraordinary outburst yesterday, General Prayuth Chan-O-Cha (right) suggested that only ugly tourists were safe when wearing beach wear. 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 Tao shook the world. The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. In recent days there has been widespread speculation in Thailand that police have arrested the wrong men. Many raised concerns that contamination cast doubt upon the forensic evidence: officials, journalists and tourists were seen walking around the crime scene, and Thai police did not use trained or independent specialists to collect forensic evidence. by potty Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:52 am, Users browsing this forum: Google Feedfetcher, Newinkow, phuketrichard, yong and 69 guests. Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 25, who were working on Koh Tao were convicted of the murders and Hannah's rape on December 24,2015, and sentenced to death. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. Her post which was later removed suggested she believed that the two convicted men might be innocent. Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. Could you please describe them? The last pictures - on night backpackers beaten to death: New CCTV revealed as Thai police investigate copycat killing theory. Lawyers for Phyo and Lin also claimed that forensic evidence used to convict them was contaminated and should be thrown out. The men displayed no emotion as they listened intently to a translator while the verdict was read at a court in the province of Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok, the capital. 11:58 GMT 20 Sep 2014 A CCTV video of a woman running near the scene is described but not released. [1] Police revealed that the samples from Witheridge's body were used up,[62][27] but were able to provide DNA samples from the murder weapon. Police said that DNA semen samples taken from Hannahs body were from two men, both Asian. [11] The two met in Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel. She appeared at the Norfolk Safer Community Awards (NOSCAs) in Norwich in 2016 when a new award was presented in memory of Hannah acknowledging the work of police family liaison officers. She made sure everyone on the nation had a chance to see what had happened to her son. Miller, 24, likely was killed with a blood-stained hoe found about 50 . David and Hannah are just two of ten western tourists who are known to have been killed, died in suspicious circumstances, or gone missing on Koh Tao since 2012. Phyo (left) and Lin (right) were planning to appeal for a royal pardon to Thailand's king. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. In a police interview Mr Ware told officers that David then told him he was going out to get some cigarettes but another friend revealed he went instead to nightclub AC to meet up with Hannah and her friend Emma Madeline. In 2017, Belgian Elise Dallemagne was found dead in the jungle of Koh Tao in what police said was suicide by hanging - though her family rejected that explanation. [15] Some migrants who were questioned complained that officers scalded them with boiling water during interrogations, allegations which were denied by the police. Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating drowning. 15:22 GMT 21 Oct 2014. BBC correspondent Jonah Fisher said Miss Witheridge's father and brother sat with their heads bowed as the evidence was presented in court but continued listening. What non practical thing are you buying with your maintenance loan first. "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. Aside from Hannah and David, 2014 also saw the death of Nick Pearson , 25, from Derby, who was found floating in the ocean on New Year's Day. She was dedicated, ambitious and would have made an amazing difference to the lives of many families through her chosen career as a Speech and Language Therapist. My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. Dunno if this is what your looking for but emmet till. "We beg that Hannah and David are afforded privacy and dignity through the removal of these pointless and insensitive reminders," they said. If you enjoyed Oliver Sacks book, you might like this photo project. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Mr Zaw and Mr Wai (also known as Win Zaw Htun), both 22 and migrants from Myanmar, also known as Burma, were arrested several weeks later. Hannah Witheridge seen looking relaxed and wandering streets with . He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. After you reached Thailand and began your job I am certain that you would have explored Thailand and realized that what you saw in the streets and other parts of Thailand matches what was mentioned in the . [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. "[78] Another commentary in the paper stated that the "overwhelming public skepticism stems from the police's longstanding notoriety for arresting poor and powerless scapegoats to save rich criminals who can afford to buy their innocence". Laura Daniels (pictured, right), 30, died in hospital on Monday just five years and one day after her sister Hannah (left), 23, and fellow traveller David Miller, 24, were murdered, Laura (pictured with her husband, Lewis Daniels) has died five years after her sister was killed in Thailand, Hannah (left), 23, and fellow traveller David Miller (right), 24, were murdered on a beach in Thailand in 2014. We'll be dignified for David. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. They say traces of at least one man's DNA has been found on Miss Witheridge's body. 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