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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. There is an alternative bus and ferry service run by Songserm, which is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. [62] They were both also charged with entering the country illegally, to which Wai Phyo had already confessed. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Buchanan who left Thailand in 2016 after receiving death threats for her reporting, reached out to the victims' families and formed a support group. 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. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. Measuring 21 square kilometres (8sqmi) in area, it is the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Read about our approach to external linking. From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing 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. The university graduate, who was two weeks into a four-month backpacking trip round South East Asia, was found dead on her bungalow in January 2015. We beg that Hannah and David are afforded privacy and dignity through the removal of these pointless and insensitive reminders. She added: The families of all the victims are not happy with the police reports, autopsy reports in Thailand dont match autopsy reports in the UK. "Then I started thinking what's going on here?". 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. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Four months later, eight bodies were found after a cartel murder spree. These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. 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. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. [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. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so. 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. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: joanromans.com, +49803921568627, +34972573012, +34643318517 Focs i Estufes Romans - Joan Romans 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. Its just really shoddy investigation work- I personally think theres something going on on that island. Hannah was raped before she was killed. However, the event did not materially affect tourism to the island over the following years. It has a population of around 1,500 people and the main settlement is Ban Mae Hat. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Koh Tao (also Ko Tao) - literally Turtle Island in the Chumphon Archipelago. For example, she discovered that one of the DNA labs that conducted tests at the time only had accreditation to do paternity tests and not criminal profiling in a capital murder case. "[56] Attempts to appeal the sentence to the High Court in 2017 were unsuccessful. Enterprise. [1], A defence team from Bangkok, composed of nearly 20 lawyers, were only permitted half an hour to meet the men; a request by the defence to delay the hearing and allow more time to prepare was denied by a judge at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. He had recently returned to the island after building up a motorbike rental business. [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. Today, we have gotten rid of them.. Thai authorities claimed he was drunk and fell, but his family believes he was murdered.. The Samui Times believes that it is in the best interests of any visitor to the island to be aware of the numerous tourist deaths and the fact that many families of those who died on the island are not satisfied with police investigations.. 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. Photo from Sept 15 showing a police officer questioning Christopher Alan Ware, who has re-emerged as a leading suspect in the murder of a young British man and woman on Koh Tao on Monday in. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, of Jersey were bludgeoned to death with a wooden hoe as they walked back to their hotel room late at night on September 15, 2014, on the popular Sairee Beah. Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. [59] The defence struggled to find members of the public willing to testify at the trial, as many feared retribution,[1][60] hence their alibi was not considered convincing by the court. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs, and face. 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. Elise had been traveling around Asia for two years, and before her death had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat on Koh Phangan. Only if they are not beautiful." She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. 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. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH. 10 July 2015. Koh Tao murders: Thai court upholds death penalty for two men convicted of killing British backpackers . A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. His family accused the Thai police of a cover-up. Find the perfect koh tao murder stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. [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. ", Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. [31][65] Jane Taupin, an Australian forensic scientist brought in by the defence, claimed that the timeline of DNA extraction was dubious; a rapid analysis of DNA samples had happened in less than 12 hours,[34] which she said was unusual because "extracting DNA from mixed samples was difficult and time-consuming". We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/world/asia/thailand-koh-tao-death-island.html#:~:text=But%20among%20some%20foreigners%2C%20Koh,began%20calling%20it%20Death%20Island.&text=She%20accused%20the%20police%20of,up%20crime%20on%20the%20island. Pathologists and legal experts criticised the police for mishandling the evidence, allowing contamination of the crime scene and failing to use experts to collect forensic evidence. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. The mum of Ben Harrington Pat was never convinced by the local police's explanation that her 32-year-old son broke his neck when he crashed into an electricity pylon on a night-time moped ride in August 2012. We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard.". Eight days later locals living near Tanote Bay found Elise's body after becoming suspicious of a monitor lizard going back and forth into the jungle. Exclusive location in the Kitirua Conservancy. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. However, a lawyer for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo told the BBC that the pair had not admitted their guilt when their death sentences were commuted. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. The evidence in the form of this Unendorsed Report would have been ruled as inadmissible in US courts and other Western courts. Elise went 1.5 miles (2.5km) through the jungle to Tanote Bay and took a room at the Poseidon Resort where she booked another ticket for Bangkok leaving on April 24. 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. Rockefeller Audio 2022. On February 16, 2015, Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao. The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. He started another business in neighboring island Koh Phayam before returning in March 2018 to "tie up loose ends". A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . "We asked for a copy of the CCTV footage and they said it was destroyed. [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. Book Koh Tao Cabana, Koh Tao on Tripadvisor: See 884 traveller reviews, 2,154 candid photos, and great deals for Koh Tao Cabana, ranked #14 of 194 hotels in Koh Tao and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. The following morning the family raised the alarm when Nick failed to answer the door. Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. It doesn't necessarily mean they are transgender, or that they are doing drag, they just live as women. New Zealand's Minisrty of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says 185 Kiwis are registered as being in the flood affected areas of Koh Samui and Koh Tao and parts of southern Thailand, including . Hannah was a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her. CONFESSION WITHDRAWN: Burmese suspect claims he was beaten, tortured by police. [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". There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. Their bodies were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last September. Bernd Grotsch 2017; The former founder of the Samui Times suggests in her new book The curse of the Turtle, released earlier this month by WildBlue Press, that something fishy is going on on that island., She challenges the validity of the investigations conducted by the Thai police claiming she has a lot of evidence and speaks of powerful local families running the island without having to comply with any laws. 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. [4], The victims of the murders were Hannah Witheridge, a 23-year-old from Hemsby, England, and David Miller, a 24-year-old from Jersey, a Crown Dependency. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. Martin Totland Frilans. 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. [83] A 2016 study said the case, which it described as a litmus test of Thailand's justice system, "seriously damaged the image of Thailand and of its forces of law and order on the global level". 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. At the time rumours of secret CCTV footage, inconclusive blood samples and a mysterious Swedish man, made Christinas dad suspicious. How are they ever going to get closure and justice if they dont know what happened? British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found dead Monday, September 15, on a beach in Koh Tao, a popular resort island in Thailand. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . That is awful. 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[15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. [38] Both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV A Scottish man is being kept in protective custody in Thailand after a photo he took could identify the murderer. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Or is Koh Tao just unlucky for visitors or is there something more sinister happening on the beautiful Thai island and haven for Scuba divers? One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. Shared On: 28th Dec, 2022. 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. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. Yearly, many professional photographers visit this lodge to capture herds of elephants crossing the dry lake in search of water . Samyak Choudhary; and "They did a visual post-mortem - just by looking at him they said he died of a broken neck and that his face was looking towards his back. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. Owner of Martin Totland Freelance LLC, specializing in event photography, freelance journalism, and Norwegian . Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. For other inquiries, Contact Us. [11] The two met in Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel. My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. Despite claims of a fall, he had no broken bones. [52] The suspects were defended pro bono by two lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Koh tao murders Stock Photos and Images (50) See koh tao murders stock video clips RM 2D0FFR6 - A police searches for clues near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found, on the island of Koh Tao September 19, 2014. 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". They had no prior criminal records. [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. With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. [1][96], Although tourist arrivals to Koh Tao dropped in the months immediately following the murders, there was little lasting effect on tourism to the island.[92]. Thailand is one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations with around 35 million visitors each year and promotes itself as the Land of Smiles. The government is sensitive to criticism that could undermine the countrys reputation. The suspects however have withdrawn their confessions to the murders and claimed Thai police forced the admissions through torture. The bungalow is 50ft above the ocean, theres nothing but massive granite boulders between his bungalow and the ocean so how did he managed to tumble all the way down there? Sun 23 Nov 2014 10.54 EST. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . Only if they are not beautiful. He later apologized, saying that he meant only that foreign visitors should be careful. [3] The murders were the first cases of homicide on the island in over eight years. The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. 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. Staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. We are like one big family, weve been through this journey for the past seven years together. [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. [7][12], Miller and Witheridge were last seen at a bar called AC Bar[13] with friends at a party on Sunday night with around 50 people mostly foreign tourists before they left together after 1am. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. Silje Mathisen 2014; The families have opened up in Sky's new documentary, Death On The Beach, saying they believe Thai police covered up what really happened to their loved ones. GermanBernd Grotsch, 47, was found deadat his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. Our kids all died on Koh Tao 'death island' - cops claim they were accidents but we think they were MURDERED Aliki Kraterou Published: 13:58, 19 Mar 2022 Updated: 15:34, 19 Mar 2022 The. It leaves Khao San Songserm at either 1800 or 1900. [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. As the Witheridge family prepares for Hannahs funeral, her parents, Sue and Tony Witheridge, released this statement: Time makes the pain of this horrendous tragedy no easier to bear. GRAPHIC crime scene photos showing the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. Administratively it is a subdistrict (tambon) of Ko Pha-ngan District (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province. An unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts, including the one Elise had been staying in. Constance Marten seen leaving court after appearing before magistrates charged with manslaughter of baby, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon blow each other a kiss in dock before court hears dead baby was found in bag in shed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on Canford Heath, Thai police covered up what really happened, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).