[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". [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". [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. [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. The discovery of the bodies last September sparked a major police investigation and intense local and international pressure to find those responsible. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the beach. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. [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. (Washington D.C., February 27, 2023) - The Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh, used to prosecute "terrorism" cases in Saudi Arabia, has charged six former prominent SCC judges and four former judges of the High Court, the country's supreme court, with "high treason" - a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia - in its first secret hearing of the case on February 16, 2023, said . Shelley Bot 2017; Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. Also on the list of unexplained tourist deaths are French Dimitri Povse, 29, who was found hanged in a bungalow on New Year's Day 2015. The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. In pictures: Thailand beach murders Show all 12 It has also been claimed that vital DNA evidence linking the two suspects to the death of Miss Witheridge no longer exists - so cannot be retested.. [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. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. It was said the pair went swimming on the same beach earlier that night, and when they got out of the water they found their clothes had disappeared. 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. They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements. 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. A Japanese high court approved Monday a posthumous retrial for a man who was convicted of murdering a 69-year-old woman in 1984 in western Japan, upholding a lower court's decision. The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. "Another one of my sons was there with him, he was absolutely distraught looking at the police just laughing at him. Pol Lt Gen Thanate Pinmuangngam, acting chief of Police Region 8, said In the Dallemagne case, the cause of death was suffocation. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. In December 2015, the pair were convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. [10][32] They highlighted a British tourist who had shared a room with Miller as a suspect, labelling it a "crime of passion"; he became the subject of a nationwide manhunt before the police quickly dropped the lead. Hannah was also raped in the attack. 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 The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. [42] In the trial, the prosecution said the phone was found smashed at the home of a friend of Zaw Lin's. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. The families of the young Brits who mysteriously lost their lives in Koh Tao have vowed to find out the truth and say something dodgy is going on., The grieving families have formed a support group following the death of their children on the Thai island, dubbed death island.. Bernd's cousin Christina said: ''We cannot accept what the Thai authorities on the island are telling us. 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. 92 Visitor. "I got him home and they had a proper postmortem - most of his bones were broken but the one bone that wasn't broken was his neck and there was no evidence of his face looking towards his back. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . Bergen Area, Norway. Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it Death Island. 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. Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. Chrissie's heartbroken dad Boyne Annesley started investigating more deaths in Koh Tao. The governor of the island said he had instructed the district chief to file criminal charges against the local online news outlet Samui Times in 2017 after it ran an article that questioned the police account of deaths and referred to Koh Tao as Death Island. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. Deaths have been explained away by the authorities as unfortunate accidents or suicides. They suggested that she mixed antibiotics with alcohol- as much as that would make the antibiotics less efficient or make you feel bad, its not going to kill you. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. 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. [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." [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. A 28-year-old British guy. Shared On: 28th Dec, 2022. They also found a suicide note at the scene. Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. [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 body of his 55-year-old mother was only found later when rescue services arrived at the scene. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. 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. [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. [30] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission said "the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the two Myanmar workers were dubious, leading to impressions the suspects were not aware of their rights and that justice had not been done". "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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 and David Miller koh tao, The horrific rape and murder of Sophie Louise Hook whilst camping in her Uncle's garden, The miracle rescue of Alan Lee Phillips at Colorados Guanella Pass - the man who turned out to be a serial killer, The chilling story of Thomas Lee Dillon - the Ohio Outdoorsmen killer, The miraculous escape of the Brazilian and German backpackers at Salt Creek in South Australia, Robert Hansen Butcher Baker - the Alaska Serial killer who hunted his victims in the wilderness, The shocking unsolved Keddie Cabin murders, The disturbing death of Fiona Torbet in the Scottish highlands, The unsolved Williams and Winans camping murders in Shenandoah National Park, The real Wolf Creek - The Backpacker Murders in the Australian Outback, The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders, The mysterious death of Carol Laughlin in Yosemite National Park, The disturbing disappearance of the Beaumont children on Glenelg Beach, The Kamloops Triangle - The British Columbia murders and disappearances, The Delphi hiking murders - Abigail Williams and Liberty German, The Peter Falconio disappearance in the Australian Outback, The unsolved murder of Scott Lilly on the Appalachian trail, The disturbing case of James Jordan - The Appalachian Trail Murderer. British woman, Christina Annesley, 23, was found in a room at the In Touch Resort on Jan 21, 2015. We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. Zaw Lin was not convicted of this charge because he held a work permit for the two years preceding the murders. Koh Tao, Thailand, Serial killers, Unexplained murders WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. 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 father-of-ones family in Ingolstadt, Germany, said at the time they did not believe the authorities' claims that hedied of heart failure or had been bitten by a snake.. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. 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. 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. Amnesty International has demanded the Thai authorities investigate the torture allegations after one suspect reportedly said he was beaten and threatened with electrocution. "[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". Cart. They told me 'you need to stop reporting on it if you want to stay here, they are getting fed up with you now, No one put a gun to my head but I was told by multiple sources that if I didnt stop reporting on it thered be trouble- it wasnt safe for me anymore.". Samui Times defended its reporting in an online post. While police claimed that she hanged herself, mystery surrounded her death, as it was revealed she used a fake name at the hostel she was staying. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? Buy images; Sell images; Lightboxes; 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. Staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. The two are charged with the murder of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on . They also raised concerns with the absence of legal counsel prior to the confession, as well as difficulties with translation and interpretation. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. Her mother, Michele claimed that Elise used a fake name of 'Elise Dubuis' to check into the Triple B Bungalows next to Mae Head Pier on Koh Tao. Creepy There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. And the same goes for Luke Millers mum Sara Cotton. CONFESSION WITHDRAWN: Burmese suspect claims he was beaten, tortured by police. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. The convictions were mired in controversy, with supporters of the two men arguing they had been framed because their initial confessions were made under duress. The autopsy stated he had drowned. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. From: kohtao. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop by scuba divers in the sea after he disappeared following a night out with his family on New Year's Eve. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. 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). [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. "They said they were going to cremate him the next day - I had to call the Home Office to stop the cremation. CTN News. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. 8.4K views 2 years ago Dedication to 20 foreigners who died on Koh Tao. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so. 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". Are there serial killers operating on the island, with their crimes apparently insufficiently investigated so that the tourist industry remains protected? 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. Koh Tao--a small island in the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by pristine beaches, swathed in sunshine, and a mecca for tourists, divers and backpackers. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? An unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts, including the one Elise had been staying in. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. Hiroshi 2002; Most mainstream media provide only superficial accounts of what has been happening on the island and their published information is often inaccurate and understated the seriousness of the situation. A millionaire hotel tycoon and his wife have been found dead in a luxury resort on Koh Tao, colloquially known as Death Island.

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