Measuring 21 square kilometres (8sqmi) in area, it is the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand. The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. [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 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. In 2012, 32-year-old Ben Harrington died in what Thai police said was a motorbike crash, but his parents said they became suspicious of the explanation when officers tried to cremate his body the following day. But Ms Daniels criticised the 'bungled' police investigation into the murders in a Facebook post in January 2016. Police say it could be of a witness to the double murder, a suspect or of Miss Witheridge herself. 2023 BBC. Where is Morgan from the Murdaugh Murders now? From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. Copyright 2022 Cambodia Expats Online. 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. [93] Amid the investigation, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited Koh Tao on 28 September 2014 in an attempt to reassure tourists. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. At the time of the murders last Monday morning, ten boats were lying offshore. She spoke out last November at the sentencing of sadistic troll Paul Hind, 38, who was jailed for 14 months at Newcastle Crown Court. Mrs Witheridge paid tribute to her daughter, saying: 'She was a beautiful and fun loving woman who filled the room with love and happiness just by being there.'. "There has been lots of chit-chat on the internet. She was dedicated, ambitious and would have made an amazing difference to the lives of many families through her chosen career as a Speech and Language Therapist. Thai police take DNA swabs and footprints of migrant workers yards from the scene of the murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group.
[11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. While Thai police are still investigating their deaths (the Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, who previously confessed have now withdrawn their confessions) shocking photos of the backpackers' bodies are now circulating online, leaving their loved ones understandably horrified and disgusted. [38] Both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. Probably the links to those photos on other sites also. 'I didn't intend to insult or criticise anyone. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". Have a story or an anonymous news tip for CEO? Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. Speaking at the court, Mr Miller's father Ian said he and his wife Sue had come "with an open mind", adding that it had been an emotional time for the family. job, Jeremy Clarkson has broken his silence following claims Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Miss Witheridge of Hemsby near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, was raped before she and Mr Miller from Jersey were battered to death with a hoe on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on September 15, 2014. As we continue with our plans for our beautiful Hannah's 'party', our thoughts are with David Miller's family who are suffering the same indescribable agony. by potty Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:52 am, Users browsing this forum: Google Feedfetcher, Newinkow, phuketrichard, yong and 69 guests. [72] The Supreme Court of Thailand upheld the sentence in August 2019, stating that the police handled the case correctly and the forensic evidence was "clear, credible, and detailed". [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. They did not seal the island, contaminated the crime scene and now have allowed these boats to get away. The family said a funeral on Friday would be a private party to celebrate her life. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. 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. Can dementia be spotted in CHILDHOOD? [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. Last month it emerged that two Burmese migrants convicted of the murders faced execution after appeals against their conviction were thrown out. However, it did not match any of their DNA records. [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. Two years after her sister was murdered, Laura wrote a Facebook postwarning people not to travel to Thailand claiming Westerners are hated in the country. 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". I'm not even following that rabbit hole because all I had to read was Porsche Girl, I've seen it before and it's bad Just to clarifyshe was NOT a dui. 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. His mother decided to have an open coffin for him so everyone could see what had been done to him and it changed the thinking of America at the time. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. The court heard he set up a fake Twitter profile in Hannah's name which Laura described as 'cruel, completely inaccurate and callous.'. Dunno if this is what your looking for but emmet till. 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. On September 20, 1988, Tara Calico left her home in New Mexico to go on a bike ride she took, In November 1981, actress Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned off the coast of Southern California during a boating trip with her, In July 2014, 52 year old Lynn Messer mysteriously disappeared from her familys 260-acre farm in Bloomsdale, Missouri. [46] The police then forced the suspects to re-enact the murder in front of media,[34] a move condemned by legal experts as prejudicing a fair hearing. Its a farce.. Earlier Thai Prime Minister said it girls wearing bikinis on the holiday island of Koh Tao were not safe unless they were ugly. [44] In December 2014, the suspects were each indicted on five charges: premeditated murder, killing to conceal a criminal offence, rape, illegal entry into Thailand, and staying in the country without permission. "[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". The team were only allowed to spend two hours on Koh Tao and did not meet with the suspects or defence. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Cambodia Expats Online: Forum | News | Information | Blog, Cambodia's Most Popular Expat Community Forums: Breaking News | Blogs | Nightlife | Khmer Culture | Information | Living, Working & Moving to Cambodia, Post Mrs Witheridge, 61, said in a statement how the lives of her family had been 'changed forever' by her murder. I shall post a link to your podcast on my Facebook page. Hiroshi 2002; This could technically be counted as a crime scene as she was DUI but the aftermath of Nikki Catsouras (Porsche girl) crash is engrained on my brain forever. [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. 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. Who is Constance Marten, the runaway aristocrat? I work in digital forensics so I've seen a ton of NSFL stuff and thought I was pretty numb. Their semi-naked bodies were discovered on the beach near rocks only 100 yards from the scene of the party. Truth about Covid care home testing row: Timeline lays bare what was said, by who and when. [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." In a hastily convened press conference in Bangkok today, Prayut said: 'I'm sorry that it hurt people. The fact that she is not here, affects us every day.'. The discovery of the bodies last September sparked a major police investigation and intense local and international pressure to find those responsible. Oh Yes, this one is gruesome . After what must have been an incomprehensibly painful month for the families of Hannah and David, the fact that painfully graphic not to mention wholly unnecessary photos of their bodies are being shared online is difficult to understand, particularly given that questions are yet to be answered about what exactly lead to their deaths. 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. 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'DNA and forensics evidence relied on to convict Zaw Law and Wai Phyo, and sentence them to death in the Koh Tao murder case, was fundamentally flawed and unreliable in terms of international standards.'. Phyo (left) and Lin (right) were planning to appeal for a royal pardon to Thailand's king. DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. We beg that Hannah and David are afforded privacy and dignity through the removal of these pointless and insensitive reminders. 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. , updated Typically you won't see crime scene pictures on there, especially ones this brutal. Ben Ellery In Koh Tao, Thailand For Mail On Sunday
48 TheVeneficus 5 yr. ago 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. It will never make any sense. It will take a bit of time to find loopholes to appeal. [35][84] Despite not initially being permitted to assist with the investigation,[33] British police observers including homicide detectives from the Metropolitan Police and a forensics expert were eventually permitted into Thailand to observe the investigation. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. by General Mackevili Thu Oct 09, 2014 12:12 am, Post [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 views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The Ultimate Cambodian Currency Guide 2022: RIEL. Hannah Witheridge 2014; 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. This is not for the faint hearted but as you are studying the subject, Im sure you will be fine. I just listened to your full podcast about Koh Tao with considerable interest. Christina Annesley 2015; Hanspeter Suter 2014; The commissioner visited the murder scene yesterday but his officers were criticised after smiling and taking selfies. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. This is a terrific answer. [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. [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. Hannah and a friend were spotted on CCTV walking down the main strip of Koh Tao towards Choppers bar at 7pm on Sunday. Following criticism for the way the case has been handled, police are now working with detectives from Scotland Yard. 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. [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. David Miller, aged 24, from Jersey, who was found murdered alongside Hannah Witheridge on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao yesterday, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers, Kate beams in red as she and William brush off Meghan and Harry Frogmore eviction drama, Kate Middleton and Prince William joined the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Combermere Barracks, in Windsor to mark St David's Day as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly face eviction, Harry and Meghan 'stunned' and two other royals 'appalled' by Frogmore eviction, says pal, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been left stunned by the reported decision by King Charles to evict them from Frogmore Cottage - and at least two other royals have been "appalled", according to biographer Omid Scobie, Snow to batter England as Met Office reveals EXACT dates cold snap will fall, Snow is due to hit England as the country faces the threat of freezing conditions next month with the Met Office giving the dates Brits could be blanketed in the white stuff, Constance Marten baby search LIVE: Police to give update on hunt for missing child, Former aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon were arrested in Brighton, East Sussex, after seven weeks on the run - but were not with their missing baby, 'I queued for an hour to visit Clarkson's farm shop - the burger van was more enticing', People have travelled from all around the country to visit Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm Shop in the Cotswolds. Ms Horton, from Cardiff, was attacked by two Thai fishermen, Bualoi Posit, 23, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, who had spent the evening drinking and swam ashore after watching porn. Jeffrey Epstein's island is becoming a tourist attraction in the Caribbean here's what the Wonder if anyone here can help. The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. They had been bludgeoned to death. 'Can they be safe in bikinis unless they are not beautiful?' Rocio Gomez; Later, police released CCTV footage which they claimed showed the students walking hand-in-hand down a street. 11:58 GMT 20 Sep 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. While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the beach. 'The death sentence against the two accused and their conviction should be reversed and quashed,' Andy Hall, an adviser to the men's legal team, said in a statement to media. Samyak Choudhary; and oh my god the Thailand crime scene photos have honestly scarred me for life. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. 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. Who's your favourite member of the royal family? 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. [90][91], The 2014 murders, along with other deaths and disappearances of tourists, led to British tabloids labelling Koh Tao as "Death Island". Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. She made sure everyone on the nation had a chance to see what had happened to her son. Excluding the black dahlia (elizabeth short) and the jack the ripper case, what crime scene photo's seriously disturb you.
Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found close to bungalows where they had been staying, Thai police say two men have confessed to killing Hannah Witheridge and David Miller, Koh Tao is a popular destination for tourists, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Miller, 24, likely was killed with a blood-stained hoe found about 50 . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Miss Witheridge's parents Tony and Susan Witheridge announced Laura's death today, saying they had been left in 'indescribable' pain. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. by potty Thu Oct 09, 2014 12:47 am, Post [15] Some migrants who were questioned complained that officers scalded them with boiling water during interrogations, allegations which were denied by the police. I just warned that sometimes people have to be careful today Thailand is safe except there are some bad guys - like anywhere in the world. "Time makes the pain of this horrendous tragedy no easier to bear," they write. In an extraordinary outburst yesterday, General Prayuth Chan-O-Cha (right) suggested that only ugly tourists were safe when wearing beach wear. Mrs Witheridge said: 'The family had always been against Hannah going on the trip and tried to persuade her out of it. September 20: Investigators now say there is no evidence to suggest Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were together on the day they died, with CCTV footage showing Mr Miller walking alone at around 1am. 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. by potty Thu Oct 09, 2014 1:29 am, Post Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. The lawyers have also said the accused men were tortured and coerced into making confessions they later retracted. The relevant standard in this case was ISO 17025. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. David's body is in the water in the picture captioned 'Photo of the resort' - just saying as I missed it several times when the pics first came online. Could you please describe them? They believe she was murdered while trying to escape from a Buddhist cult. Many raised concerns that contamination cast doubt upon the forensic evidence: officials, journalists and tourists were seen walking around the crime scene, and Thai police did not use trained or independent specialists to collect forensic evidence. What's he waiting for? The fact that there are a lot of people out there who still somehow defend them is even more unbelievable. [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. [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. Later it transpires there is evidence of one man's DNA on the cigarette, and of two men in the victim's body. 81 castielsbitch 5 yr. ago That's so strange, because honestly the body was the first thing I spotted. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Then, in June last year 47-year-old German Bernd Grotsch was found dead near his home on the island after what authorities described as a heart attack or snake bite. His remark appeared to blame murdered Briton Hannah Witheridge for exposing herself to a brutal attack on the paradise island of Koh Tao. Writing poignantly on the page she said: 'The past year has thrown our lives into disarray, tarnished our trust in anything and everything and made us question humanity. Verdicts in the case are not expected until October. I was forced to look at these photos for a DUI class when I was 14 because I was caught smoking weed.