Pol Lt Gen Thanate Pinmuangngam, acting chief of Police Region 8, said In the Dallemagne case, the cause of death was suffocation. Cart. Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. British Bricklayer Luke Miller, 26, was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach on January 6, 2016. These included backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, who were found murdered on the . On February 16, 2015, Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao. Thai beach murders: First pictures of British tourists battered to death on island The victims of the attack in Koh Tao have been named as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. Nick Pearson 2014; [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". [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. Date: July 24, 2022. 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. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. Some 200 children have died in one nation after taking toxic cough syrups. Elise Dallemagne 2017; DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. They claim they did not receive an autopsy report and say his body was sent against their wishes to the same Bangkok hospital that carried out botched reports on the bodies of two Brits murdered on the same island in 2014. Only if they are not beautiful. He later apologized, saying that he meant only that foreign visitors should be careful. His family accused the Thai police of a cover-up. [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. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. [47] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission attempted to investigate the allegations, but police representatives did not appear at four scheduled meetings. [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. "What we're after are some answers- whether we are going to get them or not I don't know. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. Nick's father, Graham, had been the last person to see him when he walked with his son back to where the family was staying. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. Thaiger Video Monday, March 7, 2022 Less than a minute We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . [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. But "Turtle Island" has its dark side. They also found a suicide note at the scene. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? Post-mortems found that Hannah had died from head wounds, while engineering student Mr Miller suffered severe blows to his head and drowned. There were apparently no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the hotel where Alexandr had been staying. Amnesty International has demanded the Thai authorities investigate the torture allegations after one suspect reportedly said he was beaten and threatened with electrocution. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at 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." 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. September 23, 2014 5:57 AM EDT T he brutal murder of British tourists Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, on the Thai resort island of Koh Tao, has reverberated around the world.. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. Ben Harrington 2012; 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.. International experts criticized the DNA testing done by the hospital at the time with claims that samples were tampered with in order to falsely incriminate two Burmese workers. "[56] Attempts to appeal the sentence to the High Court in 2017 were unsuccessful. Elewana Tortilis camp is situated in the Western part of the Amboseli ecosystem, in the 30.0000-acre Kitirua Conservancy, bordering the Amboseli National Park in Kenya. On Thursday the 29 th of August 2019, the Supreme Court of Thailand handed down its decision to uphold the death penalties for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, the Burmese migrant workers found guilty of the rape and murder of British holidaymaker Hannah Witheridge and the murder of fellow countryman David Miller in September 2014 on Koh Tao in Thailand. 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. Samyak Choudhary; and 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. They followed the animal and discovered that it had been feeding on Elise's remains, which were found among rocks behind the Tanote Family Bay Resort. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. And on Koh Tao there are around 5,000 Burmese conspicuous by the golden streaks of thanaka paste, a traditional sunscreen and beauty product, garnishing their cheeks who build hotels, sweep. "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". 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. Available for both RF and RM licensing. 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.. Koh Tao, where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered, is steeped in paradoxes. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. Hanspeter Suter 2014; Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Enterprise. [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. Now their families are demanding answers. Rockefeller Audio 2022. [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. Again when Christina Annesley died police didnt interview the last person she was seen with while she was alive. But, he said that most of these would have been present prior to his death, although he could not completely rule out the possibility that Nick had been attacked. As we continue with our plans for our beautiful Hannahs party, our thoughts are with David Millers family who are suffering the same indescribable agony. Verdicts in the case are not expected until October. Both were found dead on the bottom of a swimming pool at a seaside resort on Koh Tao in Surat Thani. David Miller 2014; [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. Exclusive location in the Kitirua Conservancy. I shall post a link to your podcast on my Facebook page. Rocio Gomez; 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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. How are they ever going to get closure and justice if they dont know what happened? He originally moved to the island in the late 1990s but left in 2016 after becoming frustrated with the corruption and hostility towards foreign business owners. Derby coroner Louise Pinder said there was not enough evidence to say how he died and recorded an open verdict. 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. She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. There were no signs he was suicidal. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). 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. 10 July 2015. Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. 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. [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. [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. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. Create an account. 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. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. [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. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. Hannah was a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? [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. "As long as I can breathe I will keep trying to find answers.". 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. [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". Zaw Lin, front, and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun), rear, arrive at the court in Koh Samui, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, Zoom boss Greg Tomb fired without cause, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life for double murder, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus. Valentina Novozhenova 2017; Available for both RF and RM licensing. The more I was getting involved, the more I was reporting, the more upset the Thais would get," she added. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". [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. Four months later, eight bodies were found after a cartel murder spree. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Zaw Lin was not convicted of this charge because he held a work permit for the two years preceding the murders. Our family have been further traumatised by reports that there are numerous unnecessary and senseless photographs circulating across the internet. [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. Anthony Cardullo 2013 (USA); They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. 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. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. [52] The suspects were defended pro bono by two lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand. [64], Several CCTV cameras near the crime scene were reported to be nonfunctional, and cameras near the pier were not checked by the police. It has a population of around 1,500 people and the main settlement is Ban Mae Hat. The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. 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. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. An inquest had been held in 2014 as his death was being treated as suspicious. A. Kadyrov Hotels near Museum of the Chechen Republic Hotels near The Flower Park Hotels near Visit Chechnya Hotels near Grozny City Observation Deck Hotels near Church of Archangel Michael Hotels near Makhmud Esambayev Avenue Hotels near Museum of Akhmat Khadzhy Kadyrov Hotels near Monument to the Fighters of the . They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. While his death was ruled as suicide cops could not explain why his hands are tied behind his back. A backpacker from Belgium, Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanged in the hillson the island on April 28, 2017. [26][27] However, her clothes were not tested for DNA. A coroner ruled in 2017 said that there is "no evidence" to suggest Luke was murdered. Andy was assisting the defence lawyers. Deaths have been explained away by the authorities as unfortunate accidents or suicides. Samui Times defended its reporting in an online post. Top Kurunegala Forests: See reviews and photos of Forests in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor. [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. [48][35] A 900-page police report was produced to guide the prosecution's case, but the defence were not allowed to see the report until the trial began. 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 . The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. 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? Phone records showed that Elise called her mother on Skype on April 17, 2017, before leaving Koh Phangan on a Ferry on April 19. A woman Povse had been interested in said he had called her twice on the phone that night but she had not picked up because she had been asleep. 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. 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. 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". [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". 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.. He was found hiding on the boat later on 2 October. A police officer told the trial of the severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been raped. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop on New Years Day 2014. [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. 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? In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. The two men were convicted and sentenced in 2015 and the verdict was upheld by an appeals court in 2017 and the Supreme Court in August 2019. The island off the Surat Thani province coast has gained notoriety after a string of suspicious and sensationalised deaths over the years. 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.

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