The body had to be identified using dental records and previous X-rays. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. We won't comment on the trial process. Now their families are demanding answers. UK reporter Suzanne Buchanan has thoroughly investigated the cases alongside the deaths of Belgian Elise Dellemange, Swiss Hans Peter Suter and French Dimitri Povse -who also were also found dead under mysterious circumstances. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . By. 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. Pol Lt Gen Thanate Pinmuangngam, acting chief of Police Region 8, said In the Dallemagne case, the cause of death was suffocation. Autopsy points to sex, struggle in Koh Tao murders - Bangkok Post Available for both RF and RM licensing. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. Martin Totland Frilans. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. The father of murdered British backpacker Hannah Witheridge has wept as graphic photos of her body lying on a Thai beach were shown in court. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard.". I shall post a link to your podcast on my Facebook page. There were no signs of fighting or a struggle, nor were foreign objects or substances that could cause loss of consciousness found in the body.. Get latest News Information, Articles on Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming Updated on December 27, 2018 19:20 with exclusive Pictures, photos & videos on Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming at Latestly.com - Page 18 We beg that Hannah and David are afforded privacy and dignity through the removal of these pointless and insensitive reminders. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. [55], The defence claimed that the investigation was flawed due to mishandling of forensic evidence, lack of legal representation during interrogations, use of threats and intimidation to secure a confession, and intimidation of witnesses. At the time rumours of secret CCTV footage, inconclusive blood samples and a mysterious Swedish man, made Christinas dad suspicious. Koh Tao is a small and beautiful island in Southern Thailand, approximately 21 km, 30 km north of Koh Phan Gan and about 70 km from the Chumphon town. Thailand: Koh Tao Murder Trial Exposed. Ugly Truth of 'Land of Smiles Rocio Gomez; He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results By Coconuts Bangkok Oct 31, 2014 | 5:40pm Bangkok time Preliminary results today found no link between Warot Tuwichian and DNA police say was collected from the scene of two murders on Koh Tao last month. Resting in the Gulf of Thailand, a two-hour ferry ride north of Koh Samui, Koh Tao is best known for its incredible marine life, which over the years has attracted a small but buoyant expat. [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. [52] The suspects were defended pro bono by two lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand. [42][43] Early police reports said Miller's mobile phone was also found in Zaw Lin's home,[44][45] although the media had previously reported the phone was handed to police by a friend of the victim. Create an account. 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 not known who released the photos from the crime scene. 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. Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . Hannah was a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Koh Tao: Millionaire couple found dead on Thailand's Death Island These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. The family claimed the circumstances surrounding his death and the local police's refusal to co-operate with them have led them to believe the death is "suspicious". It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. It is always challenging to bring ACCURATE & RELIABLE information about violent crime on Koh Tao because too many people are frightened to speak out publicly and still others try to SHOOT THE MESSENGERS . None of the families believe that the way the police said they died is actually how they died and they are all very unhappy with the investigation. Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. The Backpacker Murders Of Koh Tao. What Really Happened There? Hannah Witheridge was seen walking through Koh Tao with a group of friends - all of whom are thought to be British - just hours before being brutally murdered +17 View gallery The 23-year-old. Anthony Cardullo 2013 (USA); 8.4K views 2 years ago Dedication to 20 foreigners who died on Koh Tao. "We identified a person who was with her last and they didn't follow up with them- then we asked for a blood sample and they delayed. At least eleven European tourists have died or disappeared there since 2014 and it is now described as Death Island or Murder Island. View our online Press Pack. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. Lightboxes. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a masters degree. ", The dad added that some of the witnesses they spoke to were "too frightened" to come forward which shows "how the culture is.". "We'll go with the flow as much as we can. Top Kurunegala Forests: See reviews and photos of Forests in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor. Ten days after he went missing from Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, the body of Swiss tourist Hans Peter Suter, 44, was washed ashore at Talay Ngam beach in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, "This Septic Isle: Backpackers, Bloodshed and the Secretive World of Koh Tao", "Links revealed between police and migrants on Koh Tao", "Police: Still no suspect in killings of Britons on idyllic Thai island", "Thai king commutes death sentence of UK pair's killers", "Thailand: Hannah Witheridge 'raped by two men before being killed', "Thailand backpacker murders: David Miller and Hannah Witheridge - two lives cut short", "Thailand murders: Victims' families talk of senseless killings", "Hannah Witheridge's family pay tribute to "beautiful, intelligent, loving young woman", "British backpackers murdered in Thailand named as Hannah Witheridge and David Miller", "Thailand murders: Amnesty International call for police torture probe", Koh Samui Provincial Court No. [38] Both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? But many cases appear very suspicious according to family members and insufficiently investigated. Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming [95] The mayor of the island, Chaiyan Turasakul, announced a new police station and staffed it with 40 full-time officers, compared to five previously. THE BEST Grozny Game & Entertainment Centers (with Photos) Luke Miller 2016; Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia Elise Dallemagne 2017; David Miller 2014; [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Koh Tao, where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered, is steeped in paradoxes. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? 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. He had recently returned to the island after building up a motorbike rental business. They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like, the prime minister said. Investigators had no theory to explain her unexpected stopover on Koh Tao on her way back to the mainland and the capital Bangkok. 92 Visitor. Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah. Martin Totland - Wedding Photographer - Ivory Grove | LinkedIn Owner of Martin Totland Freelance LLC, specializing in event photography, freelance journalism, and Norwegian . "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to ask that Hannah be allowed a well-deserved day of privacy on Friday whilst we join her many friends in a celebration of her life.. Saudi Arabia | Saudi Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty against 10 Former In accepting the 2nd retrial plea, sought by the family of Hiromu Sakahara, who died of illness aged 75 while serving his term in 2011, the Osaka High Court said . Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. [71], A lawyer for the men, Nakhon Chomphuchat, said "we will appeal as soon as we can, we have just got a copy of the court's verdict. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Yoshie Sazawa (Sharlyn) 2004; 7 Reasons to stay at Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. [76], The International Commission of Jurists said "the defense must be afforded adequate time and facilities to explore whether the alleged destruction of evidence in this case was appropriate and unavoidable, and to test the prosecution case overall." Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. In August 2020, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo had their death sentences commuted to life in prison to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and to show his "clemency". Father weeps at Thai murder photos. The hearing was told that a post-mortem examination in Thailand showed that Mr Miller had a number of small bruises on his face and legs and gave a cause of death of head injuries and drowning. Although both of his hands were tied behind the back, the police said he could have done this himself as the rope was tied to one hand and a loop was made so the other hand could be inserted. Corpse photos of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on internet Khao San Lomprayah - 2100 arrives Koh Tao 0845 > check prices for Bangkok to Koha Tao night bus and ferry and book now. Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of his daughter's body were shown on the third day of the trial of Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo. [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. The Mirror reports that Hannahs family have pleaded for the photos of the pair, who were brutally murdered on a Thailand beach, to be taken off the internet. Attempted murder by Thai diving instructor, Santi Khokpool in the Fishbowl Beach Bar, Koh Tao on 28-year-old British tourist on 15 August 2020. Burmese migrant workers made up an additional 5,000, around 2,000 of these being illegal immigrants who bribe local police by paying 500 baht each month. [37] Two weeks after the bodies were found, on 1 October 2014, police interrogated Mau Mau, who said he took the motorcycle and separated from the other two men before the murders occurred, and found them both home asleep by the time he had returned. The reporter was forced to leave the country she lived in for 20 years after Thai authorities issued an arrest warrant accusing her of publishing false information and violating the computer crime law.. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. koh tao murders crime scene photos. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). Thailands prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, questioned the attire and behavior of foreign female tourists shortly after the killing of two British backpackers, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the island in 2014. "As long as I can breathe I will keep trying to find answers.". [1][15][21], During an hours-long interrogation, during which the police used Burmese food vendors as interpreters[35] because the pair could not speak Thai,[41] the suspects confessed to the murders. Both were found dead on the bottom of a swimming pool at a seaside resort on Koh Tao in Surat Thani. And at least six young Brits have all died in suspicious circumstances on the small island of Koh Tao, leading their loved ones to label it "Death Island". The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered on tourism, especially scuba diving. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller koh tao, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo koh tao, dimitri povse koh tao, christina annesley koh tao, Valentina Novozhyonova koh tao, luke miller koh tao, Elise Dallemagne koh tao, Bernd grotsch koh tao, Alexandr Bucspun koh tao, The frightening case of the Trailside Killer David Carpenter, The Yosemite National Park Sightseer Murders and the two faces of evil, The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. Bernds family in Ingolstadt, Germany, said that the authorities told them he had died of heart failure or had been bitten by a snake. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. "They said they were going to cremate him the next day - I had to call the Home Office to stop the cremation. Aran Klaewklong, a security guard from Big Blue Diving shop, told police he found a mobile phone, clothes, a hotel key, shoes and an ID on the beach at 1.30 am during a beach patrol. Police major general, Surachate Hakparn, said in an interview that the police have cracked down on crime syndicates on Koh Tao since the backpackers double killing. [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. We admit that in the past, there was a mafia there that took advantage of tourists. Thailand's dark side: why you really shouldn't visit Koh Tao German Bernd Grotsch's body was found at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. "[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". [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. "We asked for a copy of the CCTV footage and they said it was destroyed. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case.