The relevant standard in this case was ISO 17025. "They said they were going to cremate him the next day - I had to call the Home Office to stop the cremation. We admit that in the past, there was a mafia there that took advantage of tourists. A Thai/Indian couple circa June 2021. From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. The Samui Times believes that it is in the best interests of any visitor to the island to be aware of the numerous tourist deaths and the fact that many families of those who died on the island are not satisfied with police investigations.. From: kohtao. 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. Despite claims of a fall, he had no broken bones. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . Picture: Viral Press/Australscope [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. 2040 / 2557, Regional Court of Appeal VIII No. 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. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. We are here for David because of his tragic death. GermanBernd Grotsch, 47, was found deadat his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. Lightboxes. The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. 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. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. A coroner ruled in 2017 said that there is "no evidence" to suggest Luke was murdered. In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. Hannah was also raped in the attack. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Mr Sachathamakul's wife, Anshoo. The island off the Surat Thani province coast has gained notoriety after a string of suspicious and sensationalised deaths over the years. Creepy There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. [1][96], Although tourist arrivals to Koh Tao dropped in the months immediately following the murders, there was little lasting effect on tourism to the island.[92]. We beg that Hannah and David are afforded privacy and dignity through the removal of these pointless and insensitive reminders. [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 investigation of the Witheridge and Miller slayings was widely criticized as the crime scene was not properly secured, and questions were also raised about subsequent DNA testing. There were no witnesses. 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. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. [85][15][86] Prayut said that British and Burmese government representatives were "limited to observation" and had to "respect our processes". [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. World put on alert as deadly virus spreads, Hundreds dead in horror cough syrup tragedy. Pol Maj Gen Pornchai Sutheerakhun, director of the Institute of Forensic Science at Police General Hospital in Bangkok, said There were wounds around the neck due to the hanging and some non-fatal bruises in the head, and no drugs were found in the body. Although Koh Tao is one of the . The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. For example, she discovered that one of the DNA labs that conducted tests at the time only had accreditation to do paternity tests and not criminal profiling in a capital murder case. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. 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. 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. 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 5am, a few hours after their deaths. 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. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. 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? Samui Times defended its reporting in an online post. They said Wai Phyo found the mobile phone dropped on the beach, and so he kept it. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? They also found a suicide note at the scene. Koh Tao murders 1 language Sairee Beach The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. Pathologists and legal experts criticised the police for mishandling the evidence, allowing contamination of the crime scene and failing to use experts to collect forensic evidence. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. CONFESSION WITHDRAWN: Burmese suspect claims he was beaten, tortured by police. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). [31] Media reports speculated that was because the defence was wary of calling on foreign experts fearing it could appear as undermining the Thai justice system, and could bias the judges against their case. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. Again when Christina Annesley died police didnt interview the last person she was seen with while she was alive. Hanspeter Suter 2014; [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." We won't comment on the trial process. [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. 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. [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. Photographs of the bodies have been circulating on the internet. 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. It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Elise Dallemagne 2017; Police on the resort island of Koh Tao are investigation the drowning death of a wealth business man and his wife. 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. "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". [1] Police revealed that the samples from Witheridge's body were used up,[62][27] but were able to provide DNA samples from the murder weapon. [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. Photograph: Alamy. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. 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. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. [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. 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. [38] Police entered the home the next day; only one of the men, Zaw Lin, was present. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. koh tao murders crime scene photos. Police major general, Surachate Hakparn, said in an interview that the police have cracked down on crime syndicates on Koh Tao since the backpackers double killing. [29][30] The police initially speculated about who the culprit might be, alleging various individuals of perpetrating the crime without clear evidence. I was good friends with a few and they were all restaurant/bar owners. Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. 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). Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. [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". [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. Hannah Witheridge 2014; [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Investigators had no theory to explain her unexpected stopover on Koh Tao on her way back to the mainland and the capital Bangkok. Here are the names of some of the other outsiders who died on Koh Tao: Ian Jacobs 2000; "We asked for a copy of the CCTV footage and they said it was destroyed. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. 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. Today, we have gotten rid of them.. [39] Following an interrogation, during which police say Zaw Lin admitted he had entered the country illegally, Zaw Lin was arrested and his clothes and motorcycle were seized as evidence. A 28-year-old British guy. She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. They had no prior criminal records. I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. The hearing was told that a post-mortem examination in Thailand showed that Mr Miller had a number of small bruises on his face and legs and gave a cause of death of head injuries and drowning. Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. 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.. I just listened to your full podcast about Koh Tao with considerable interest. [2] In 2014, the island had a population of around 5,000 locals. Valentina Novozhenova 2017; [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. "Another one of my sons was there with him, he was absolutely distraught looking at the police just laughing at him. [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. He had entered the country on September 26, 2018, before traveling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. That is awful. Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. Get latest News Information, Articles on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming Updated on December 27, 2018 19:20 with exclusive Pictures, photos & videos on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming at Latestly.com - Page 18 On Tuesday, new details emerged as police investigated the death of a wealthy billionaire industrialist and his wife on Ko Tao last Friday. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. They also raised concerns with the absence of legal counsel prior to the confession, as well as difficulties with translation and interpretation. 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. 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. Dimitri Povse 2015; The defendants have repeatedly stated their innocence over the murders, with the defence alleging they were framed. 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. It followed her reporting on the case of a British girl who was allegedly raped on the same beach. It has a population of around 1,500 people and the main settlement is Ban Mae Hat. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . Find the perfect koh tao murder stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Hotels near The Heart of Chechnya Hotels near State Gallery named after A. Our kids all died on Koh Tao 'death island' - cops claim they were accidents but we think they were MURDERED Aliki Kraterou Published: 13:58, 19 Mar 2022 Updated: 15:34, 19 Mar 2022 The. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. June 6, 2021. Create an account. 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. "[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". Available for both RF and RM licensing. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. Ten days after he went missing from Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, the body of Swiss tourist Hans Peter Suter, 44, was washed ashore at Talay Ngam beach in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. Book Koh Tao Cabana, Koh Tao on Tripadvisor: See 884 traveller reviews, 2,154 candid photos, and great deals for Koh Tao Cabana, ranked #14 of 194 hotels in Koh Tao and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. The suspects however have withdrawn their confessions to the murders and claimed Thai police forced the admissions through torture. British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found dead Monday, September 15, on a beach in Koh Tao, a popular resort island in Thailand. 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. [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". It covers an area of about 21 km2. Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of his daughter's body were shown on the third day of the trial of Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo. When Nick Pearson died the police didnt go to his room, they didnt interview anybody. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. Khao San Lomprayah - 2100 arrives Koh Tao 0845 > check prices for Bangkok to Koha Tao night bus and ferry and book now. Now their families are demanding answers. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. 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. [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". Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. 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. 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.. Hannah was a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, UK, and David was a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. [1][15][21], During an hours-long interrogation, during which the police used Burmese food vendors as interpreters[35] because the pair could not speak Thai,[41] the suspects confessed to the murders. There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . I was told on more than one occasion that I needed to take down this stuff from the paper. Koh Tao is a small and beautiful island in Southern Thailand, approximately 21 km, 30 km north of Koh Phan Gan and about 70 km from the Chumphon town. An unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts, including the one Elise had been staying in. What really happened there? "There has been lots of chit-chat on the internet. But they were skeptical and he was fit and healthy at the time of his death. 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.