Read about our approach to external linking. [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". The evidence in the form of this Unendorsed Report would have been ruled as inadmissible in US courts and other Western courts. A police officer told the trial of the severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been raped. I work in digital forensics so I've seen a ton of NSFL stuff and thought I was pretty numb. 'On my darkest days, I think about the people who have thrown themselves out of planes, run significant distances and those who have sacrificed precious pounds from tight budgets to support us. The lawyers have also said the accused men were tortured and coerced into making confessions they later retracted. A pro-bono legal team defending the men has said evidence collected by police was unreliable and not in accordance with internationally accepted standards, arguing it should not have been used to convict them. Christopher and James Ware were stopped at Suvarnabhumi International airport on their way back to Britain for questioning. [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. They think our country is beautiful and is safe so they can do whatever they want, they can wear bikinis and walk everywhere. However, it did not match any of their DNA records. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 25, who were working on Koh Tao were convicted of the murders and Hannah's rape on December 24,2015, and sentenced to death. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. 2023 BBC. Here are the names of some of the other outsiders who died on Koh Tao: Ian Jacobs 2000; It's worth noting that his mother didn't just have an open casket at the funeral. 15:22 GMT 21 Oct 2014. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. Miller, 24, likely was killed with a blood-stained hoe found about 50 . Some 17,000 was raised by a Go Fund Me donation page set up by Laura to enable the family to attend the trial in Thailand and pay for an interpreter. The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK. Officers have taken the details of the fishing boats moored off the islands Sairee Beach on the island of Koh Tao. by potty Wed Oct 08, 2014 11:51 pm, Post by potty Thu Oct 09, 2014 12:23 am, Post [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. They beat Ms Horton, raped her, and threw her into the sea where she drowned. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. But they have another dark side to them. [52] The suspects were defended pro bono by two lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Thailand's Supreme Court last month upheld murder convictions against two Myanmar migrant workers sentenced to death for killing two British backpackers. David Miller 2014; Miss Witheridge's parents Tony and Susan Witheridge announced Laura's death today, saying they had been left in 'indescribable' pain. They were sentenced to death over the murder of Hannah Witheridge. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. , updated Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35, Kobe Bryant widow wins $29m settlement from LA, Ruling party wins Nigeria's presidential election. Probably the links to those photos on other sites also. Powerful Commons committee could look at case for banning stoves in towns and Love Island hit by hundreds of Ofcom complaints from furious viewers over 'toxic femininity' row and Movie As easy as buying a loaf of bread: Undercover footage reveals how laughing gas is being sold from local Could Northern Ireland become the UK's Silicon Valley? She spoke out last November at the sentencing of sadistic troll Paul Hind, 38, who was jailed for 14 months at Newcastle Crown Court. [11] The two met in Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel. I have never had the courage to look. My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. The Mirror's Ariane went to see what all the fuss is about, Attacker tries to smash into house as cops 'blame football' for delay in 999 response, A householder who sheltered a woman from the man she claimed attacked her on the street claims police blamed Sunday's Wembley cup final for the time taken to respond to her 999 call, King Charles evicted Harry and Meghan 'just 24 hours after Spare was released', King Charles reportedly began the eviction process a day after Prince Harry's book Spare hit the shelves. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. 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. . [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. The comments below have been moderated in advance. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. We hope you'll do the same? Police believe that, just like in her murder, the two latest victims may have been killed by fishermen who swam ashore in order to target foreigners. Truth about Covid care home testing row: Timeline lays bare what was said, by who and when. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. Six of those have since left and police colonel Kitthanes Thananunthawisin, of the Marine Police Divisions sub-division 6, said he had the names of all the boats and they were being recalled. [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. After the discovery of the British tourists' bodies on a beach on Koh Tao, police said Hannah, from Norfolk, had been raped and bludgeoned to death while David, from Jersey, had suffered blows to his head. The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Cambodia Expats Online is the most popular community in the country. [77], An opinion piece in Bangkok Post wrote that "practically no one believes [Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo] really brutally murdered English tourists", adding "in Thai media of all kinds, the consensus is that Win and Zaw Lin are scapegoats. Verdicts in the case are not expected until October. the above report about the "son" sounds much too much like a "closing in" on the culprits. He was last night accused of smearing a murdered British backpacker to protect his countrys tourism industry. Ahead of Hannah's funeral on Friday, her family have released a heart-breaking statement. After the attack they swam to their boat and boasted to their colleagues. She appeared at the Norfolk Safer Community Awards (NOSCAs) in Norwich in 2016 when a new award was presented in memory of Hannah acknowledging the work of police family liaison officers. 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.Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. Have a story or an anonymous news tip for CEO? [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. job, Jeremy Clarkson has broken his silence following claims Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? I went in blind when it first was releasedhad nightmares for days afterward. I click the link and it just gives me the wow such empty message. 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. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. I remember seeing the pics 12 years ago and being horrified but I kept going back to look again . Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Luke Miller, a bricklayer from the Isle of Wight, was then found dead in a pool on the island in 2016 with Thai police saying there was no evidence of foul play, despite his family saying they had received conflicting reports of events before his death. Here, a breakdown of the investigation shows how the frantic hunt for backpackers' killers has unfolded. They said Wai Phyo found the mobile phone dropped on the beach, and so he kept it. The commissioner visited the murder scene yesterday but his officers were criticised after smiling and taking selfies. Evidence shown in Alex Murdaugh's trial for murder shows the Colleton County property where the Murdaughs lived, at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C. on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. It will never make any sense. We won't comment on the trial process. Last month, the tragic revelation that backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, from Jersey had been murdered on the holiday island of Koh Tao shook the world. Miss Witheridge's family said "senseless" photos of the crime scene had added to their agony. Nick Pearson 2014; Laura Daniels (pictured, right), 30, died in hospital on Monday just five years and one day after her sister Hannah (left), 23, and fellow traveller David Miller, 24, were murdered, Laura (pictured with her husband, Lewis Daniels) has died five years after her sister was killed in Thailand, Hannah (left), 23, and fellow traveller David Miller (right), 24, were murdered on a beach in Thailand in 2014. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. Barcroft David William Miller and Hanna Victoria Witheridge [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. After you reached Thailand and began your job I am certain that you would have explored Thailand and realized that what you saw in the streets and other parts of Thailand matches what was mentioned in the . Allegations about police brutality rocked the countrys economy that almost solely relies on tourism. In a police interview Mr Ware told officers that David then told him he was going out to get some cigarettes but another friend revealed he went instead to nightclub AC to meet up with Hannah and her friend Emma Madeline. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Traumatizing. At 1.26am he is recorded walking from the club, and returns at 1.57am. Laura Daniels, 30, died in hospital on Monday just five years and one day after her sister Hannah, 23, and fellow traveller David Miller, 24, were murdered on a beach in Thailand. Really gross. Check r/crimescene - the two most disturbing on that was i) Little boy decapitated by his father in a murder suicide and ii) the British girl raped and murdered in Thailand. The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. She sympathised with Hannah's family for their suffering over her 'tragic and unnecessary loss'. "Life is too important to take seriously.". DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. She graduated from the University of East Anglia with a degree in education in 2012. Thai courts have rejected accusations of torture and ruled that DNA evidence linked the workers to the crime. Revealed: Hacked nude celebrity photos had been on 'deep web' black market for a WEEK - and there could be even more to come. Two Ukrainian women look back at one year of war, Why you shouldn't go into TikTok's "monk mode", Pictures of Thai murder victim Hannah Witheridge's body circulate on the Internet, Cosmopolitan, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk and David Miller, 24, from Jersey had been murdered on the holiday island of Koh Tao. . said General Prayuth Chan-O-Cha in a televised speech. We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard.". 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. The men displayed no emotion as they listened intently to a translator while the verdict was read at a court in the province of Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok, the capital. Excluding the black dahlia (elizabeth short) and the jack the ripper case, what crime scene photo's seriously disturb you. . From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. An inquest into the death of Miss Witheridge which was held in Norwich in February 2016 heard how her family described her as 'a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman'. The fact that people e-mailed her family the photos while pretending to be Nikki was enough. Phyo and Lin initially confessed to raping Miss Witheridge before beating her and Mr Miller to death, but later recanted, saying they were tortured. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. Earlier Thai Prime Minister said it girls wearing bikinis on the holiday island of Koh Tao were not safe unless they were ugly. Hanspeter Suter 2014; However, Christina's family say no toxicology report was carried out, raising questions about her death, while Dimitri's family say he could not have hanged himself because his hands were tied behind his back. Zaw Lin, front, and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun), rear, arrive at the court in Koh Samui, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. They had been bludgeoned to death. Deputy police chief spokesman Col Kissana Phathanacharoen said the two suspects, both aged 21, had been charged with three offences; conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to rape, and robbery. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. He said: The police are capable of little more than extracting fines from foreigners and they are in the palms of the local big families on the island., Another added: This is the latest in a series of bungles in this investigation. At 7.47pm David and his friend Chris Ware were filmed walking towards the bar. Students Hannah and David had attended a beach party before slipping away together at around 1am on Monday. Healthy mother-of-two, 32, collapsed and died from brain bleed while she led fitness bounce class. "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. She achieved so much and had so much more ahead of her. The men who killed Till were not mentally ill and they were not penalized or ostracized for their actions. Dunno if this is what your looking for but emmet till. Evidence suggests the brave 24-year-old put up a fight before his death and that he was drowned. Hannah (pictured right with a friend on Koh Tao shortly before she died) was backpacking in Thailand while studying at the University of Essex to be a speech therapist. In an extraordinary outburst yesterday, General Prayuth Chan-O-Cha (right) suggested that only ugly tourists were safe when wearing beach wear. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. "[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".
.png)