[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". Turtle Island's Dark Secret: The Case of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller Thailand backpacker murders: David Miller and Hannah Witheridge - two Their senseless deaths sparked international outrage and raised questions about j Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, This Septic Isle: Backpackers, Bloodshed and the Secretive World of Koh Tao. One of Wai Phyos former employers, who saw him soon after Sept. 15 and noticed no perceivable change in his demeanor, has refused to be a character witness or be named by TIME. A mute Burmese beach cleaner stumbled upon the bodies shortly after dawn. He was found hiding on the boat later on 2 October. The police quickly elicited a confession and, after a macabre reconstruction of the murders before a swarm of media including a staged session of penitent prayers by the accused probably hoped that the case looked closed. Foreigners die surprisingly often here. [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. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller's bodies were found on a beach in Koh Tao in September 2014. The second individual, Wai Phyo, had allegedly fled the island by boat the previous night. [11], An autopsy revealed that both victims were hit by a hard object, resulting in head and face wounds. Both were. The murders of Witheridge and Miller sent shock waves through Thailand. Theories abound on Koh Tao about who killed Miller and Witheridge. Sean McAnna, 25, has fled the island of Koh Tao after claiming he knows who was responsible for the murders of Hannah Witheridge and his friend, David Miller. People come to Thailand to get away from it all. [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. But the seemingly idyllic paradise of Koh Tao, once known as Turtle Island, has turned from beauty to horror as a string of brutal murders and unexplained disappearances have rocked the community And the shambolic investigation also didnt help.. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller's bodies were found on a beach in Koh Tao in September 2014 Two Burmese migrants convicted over the killings had their death sentences reduced to life. [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. The police found a garden hoe and a wooden club nearby, which were quickly determined as the principal murder weapons. Only if they are not beautiful." Officials deny claims of torture and reports that men accused of killing Hannah Witheridge and David Miller withdrew confessions Jamie Doward Sat 11 Oct 2014 07.15 EDT Last modified on Sat 2 Dec . Family members of Hannah Witheridge comfort one another at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok, on Sept. 18, 2014, Burmese migrant workers Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court, in Koh Samui, Thailand, on July 8, 2015, Police measure footprints of a man as data is collected from people who work near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found, on the island of Koh Tao, Thailand, on Sept. 19, 2014, David Miller, 24, from Jersey, left, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, Thailand is Suffering From The Worst Drought in Decades. Miss Witheridge, a University of Essex student from Hemsby, Norfolk and Mr Miller, a civil and . For while the surf has washed the blood from the sand, and life returns to normal for the islands hodgepodge of wealthy and penniless inhabitants, one fact remains clear: not just the boulders hide secrets on Koh Tao. 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 family of a British backpacker killed in Thailand have welcomed a decision to commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison. What Have Happened to Hannah Witheridge and David Miller? Where Have Thailand backpacker murders: Burmese workers sentenced to death Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. I did feel safe, but that is scary.. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. By the time dawn broke over Koh Tao, the beach had been . However, the defense counsel argued all the evidence against the defendants was circumstantial, and the police had no known eyewitness to the murders. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. As the investigation continues and new evidence emerges, it seems that the . [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. Write to Charlie Campbell at [email protected]. [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. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Her family described her asvivacious and someone who loved living.Hannah was due to return to her postgraduate Speech and Language Therapy course at Essex University after her summer break. At present, the case rests on DNA evidence linking cigarette butts found around 20 m from the bodies next to a crooked log where Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo admit they were playing guitar and drinking beer on the evening in question. She added, She always got along well on placement. [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. They had only been in the country for days before they were murdered. Thai police say concrete evidence links Burmese suspects to Britons [66], On 24 December 2015, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were found guilty of murdering Witheridge and Miller by the three judges, and were sentenced to death. Like the Millers, the Witheridge family initially offered no comment on worries about a miscarriage of justice after the arrested men said they had been tortured to extract confessions. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo know this too well. 2040 / 2557", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koh_Tao_murders&oldid=1150069590, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 April 2023, at 05:03. [47][75][12] Human Rights Watch said the case was "profoundly disturbing" and called for the verdict to be reviewed in a "transparent and fair appeal process". The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. But it unraveled just as quickly. David Miller is from the island of Jersey in the English channel between the United Kingdom and France. Most are running guesthouses, eateries and scuba-diving operations or working as diving instructors. Around three weeks ago, on September 15, their bodies were found together . Murdered backpacker's family fight against of attackers death Back on Koh Tao, authorities have scrambled to blot out the tragedy. 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. mi.) A year after Millers death his parents unveiled a memorial for him, a bench on the north coast of his home island, inscribed, Never let a person sit alone. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. With tourism critical to Thailand's e. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. Thoughts and prayers with his family and friends. Sean McAnna (25), from Shotts near Glasgow, was a friend of David Miller, the tourist whose body was found last week on Koh Tao island along with that of Hannah Witheridge. [1] After initially failing to find a match to one of the migrant workers, the police focused their attention on Western tourists related to the victims. Thailands National Human Rights Commission investigated these allegations, but progress has been glacial, not least because police representatives failed to turn up to four arranged meetings. He added that they would if they are not beautiful., Prayuth soon backtracked on his remarks on travelers, saying, Sometimes I speak too strongly. But virtually his next breath again sought to assign blame: We have to help take care of [our nation], he said, and not let not-good people mingle with us, such as unregistered alien workers., Investigators had already steered their attention to migrant workers, via a friend of the deceased, and the son of a local headman, who were briefly considered as suspects. [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. One of the three suspected individuals was identified as Mau Mau, a local living nearby. They were seen buying beer and cigarettes before taking a shortcut route to Sairee Beach. bubble tea consumption statistics australia. It has over 100 hotels and resorts and was deemed the busiest diving centre in Southeast Asia in 2014. News reports stated officers rounded up200 alleged suspects, most migrant workers, and used mass DNA testing. (Facebook). The 18-day trial of the two defendants, divided into three equal parts over several weeks, began on July 8. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. 2023 BBC. Scared is right. They also pointed out several mistakes the incompetent investigators committed during the probe and alleged the officers restored to torture to make the defendants admit to the crime. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve. She was just one of those beautiful, bubbly people, amazing inside and out. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. Thailands tourist industry is already reeling from the effects of marital law. Both were found dead early on the morning of September 15. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Dehumanizing as it sounds, they are a commodity for some people., Asked whether he has a message for his compatriots considering working in Thailand, Wai Phyo simply says, Be careful when you go out at night as you might step in the wrong place., WE HAVE LEARNED TO TAKE CARE OF VISITORS. [7] Witheridge had completed undergraduate studies in education at the University of East Anglia and had started post-graduate studies in speech and language therapy at the University of Essex. Police and court systems were hacked or taken offline in the following days, and a stash of personal information obtained from the court's servers was posted publicly. But many have concerns that the scene was contaminated immediately after the discovery of the bodies; myriad officials, journalists and even bewildered tourists were seen traipsing through the area while evidence was still being gathered. During the trial, the prosecution also claimed Davids stolen phone was discovered smashed at the home of a friend of Zaw Lins. The police removed the bodies to prevent them from being swept up in the rising tide as the locals blocked the pier to stop the unidentified killers from leaving the island. One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. Jak zemeli Hannah Witheridge a David Miller? This was very different. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were killed in 2014 By Stephanie Cockroft 15 August 2020 A pair of migrant workers convicted of murdering two young British tourists on a Thai holiday. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. 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. Hannah met David Miller by chance when they and their friends stayed in adjoining rooms of the Ocean View Bungalows, a small backpacker complex overlooking the white sand sweep of Sairee beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. In fact, says Sean Turnell, a professor and expert on Burmese economics at Australias Macquarie University, The economic circumstances of Myanmars majority rural population are now marginally worse than before the reforms were launched.. Laura Daniels, 30, has died five years after sister Hannah, 23,. Friend of slain tourist flees over 'mafia' threat | Independent.ie They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. [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". Backpacker's family 'grateful' for Thai king's clemency The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. Wai Phyo, a Real Madrid fanatic who idolizes FIFA world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, moves a virtually hairless top lip as he talks. [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. Thai king commutes sentence of UK pairs killers, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic. Photograph: PA. Rights groups have said the pair were used as scapegoats by the . With no leads or suspects, the police wildly speculated who the culprit might be as they alleged several individuals to be the supposed killer without any evidence. Witheridge, 23, from Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, was raped and beaten to death. According to reports, the bodies were partially clothed, and the officers also located three cigarette butts and a used condom nearby. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. The children always loved her. [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. Their sentences have been reviewed to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and to show his "clemency". There was so much he could be doing with his life, and having it cut short is unbelievably cruel. Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. Zaw and Wai were each indicted on five charges, including premeditated murder, killing to conceal a criminal offense, rape, illegal entry into Thailand, and staying in the country without permission. The next in size is Koh Phangan, home of the infamous Full Moon parties, with a reputation for drugs and debauchery. . Defence lawyers claimed. In September 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller only met by chance while backpacking on the island, but when their bodies were found together on Sairee Beach, they would become linked forever by a tragic mystery. Thailand backpacker murders: bar workers found guilty of killing British tourists, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Both men, in their early 30s, are presumed to be serving their sentence in some Thailand prison. Little wonder the conversational staple of many long-term expats is, These are the worst Thais in Thailand.. Human-rights groups expressed serious concerns. [42] In the trial, the prosecution said the phone was found smashed at the home of a friend of Zaw Lin's. Over the coming weeks we hope to gain a better understanding as to how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a horrible way, said Millers family in a statement at the opening of the trial. On 15 September, the bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on Sairee Beach on the island of Koh Tao, between 4 and 5 am, a few hours after their deaths. Some work on fishing boats for years without seeing land, getting passed between trawlers, catching fish, squid and shrimp for American dinner tables. They took the victim away in a pickup truck and the barman just got a mop out and cleaned up the blood, he says. [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. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations". WHEN Susan Witheridge heard her daughter Hannah wanted to go to Thailand she was terrified. The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. 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. [2] In 2014, the island had a population of around 5,000 locals. More recently, a court order to allow Dr. Pornthip to review the DNA evidence was rescinded. Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. The episode tries to deconstruct the complex case for the listeners as it narrates the incidents chronologically and questions several alleged incompetencies in the murder probe. 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. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015,. The bodies of Mr Miller and Miss Witheridge were found on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao in 2014. "Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo finally admitted to the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge and the murder of our son.". Hannah was also raped. After the court ordered the DNA to be tested again on July 10, the head of Thailands Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA sample on the hoe did not match the defendants. 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 bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. Its also reported that Witheridge had been raped prior to her death, those reports were later found to be unfounded. Possessing no official status or documents, their vulnerability is extreme, and complaints of rape, extortion and physical violence are legion. They said Wai Phyo found the mobile phone dropped on the beach, and so he kept it. The episode tries to deconstruct the complex case for the listeners as it narrates the incidents chronologically and questions several alleged incompetencies in the murder probe. They had no prior criminal records. Hannah Victoria Witheridge se narodila v Hemsby, Great Yarmouth Borough, v Norfolku, Anglie, 15. jna 1990. The crimes brutality amid Koh Taos insular, backpacker charm caused an international sensation and threatened to further weaken a tourist industry already reeling from the military coup of May 22, 2014, which saw hundreds arbitrarily detained and draconian new controls imposed on freedom of speech and assembly. Drugs play a key role. Photograph: PA The island, two hours by boat from the nearest airport, has a low-key, undeveloped feel. Junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha enraged many by hinting that the blame, at some level, lay with the attractive victims. Hannah Witheridge was a college student at the University of Essex and lived there, according to her Facebook page. Sister of murdered Brit backpacker died 9 weeks into pregnancy and 'no I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? Thailand backpacker murders: David Miller and Hannah Witheridge - two lives cut short The two young tourists were killed in the early hours of 15 September, 2014, after which their relatives.
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