Hannah Witheridge and David Miller koh tao, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo koh tao, dimitri povse koh tao, christina annesley koh tao, Valentina Novozhyonova koh tao, luke miller koh tao, Elise Dallemagne koh tao, Bernd grotsch koh tao, Alexandr Bucspun koh tao, The frightening case of the Trailside Killer David Carpenter, The Yosemite National Park Sightseer Murders and the two faces of evil, The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. We admit that in the past, there was a mafia there that took advantage of tourists. [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. Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah. 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. "There was no compassion at all- he had to go down to identify the body which he couldn't do and while he was sitting there the police were just laughing. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. After searching, All rights reserved. 10 July 2015. Buchanan told the Sun Online: They all died in really mysterious circumstances- the Thai version of Christina Annesleys death was that she died of natural causes, she's 23! 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. "We identified a person who was with her last and they didn't follow up with them- then we asked for a blood sample and they delayed. Their bodies were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last September. In 2014, Koh Tao was the site of the brutal double murders of two British backpackers, but theirs weren't the only suspicious backpacker deaths. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. Christina Annesley 2015; Find the perfect koh tao murder stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. [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." The university graduate, who was two weeks into a four-month backpacking trip round South East Asia, was found dead on her bungalow in January 2015. Controversially, Surat Thani governor Auaychai Innak dismissed as untrue some foreign news reports which claimed reptiles had eaten half of Dallemagne's body. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). 24, after their battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern resort island of . Samyak Choudhary; and 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. [26][27] However, her clothes were not tested for DNA. 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. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. 8.4K views 2 years ago Dedication to 20 foreigners who died on Koh Tao. "[56] Attempts to appeal the sentence to the High Court in 2017 were unsuccessful. Bergen Area, Norway. It will take a bit of time to find loopholes to appeal. DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. Buy images; Sell images; Lightboxes; [79] Rumours began to circulate, with residents on the island saying the island is controlled by a mafia who "have information about the true culprits", and claimed that the police is covering for them. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. [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". [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. A UK autopsy later revealedBen died of a transected aorta a rupture of the bodys largest artery rather than a broken neck. [52] The suspects were defended pro bono by two lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. Martin Totland Frilans. Only if they are not beautiful." It followed her reporting on the case of a British girl who was allegedly raped on the same beach. 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. Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of. Amnesty International has demanded the Thai authorities investigate the torture allegations after one suspect reportedly said he was beaten and threatened with electrocution. 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. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. The following morning the family raised the alarm when Nick failed to answer the door. Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. Doubts lingered over the conviction of two migrant Burmese workers for the rape and murders, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). [1][11][18] A bloody hoe, believed to be the murder weapon, and a wooden club were found near the bodies,[19][4][14] along with three cigarette butts and a used condom. What really happened there? David Miller 2014; (Washington D.C., February 27, 2023) - The Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh, used to prosecute "terrorism" cases in Saudi Arabia, has charged six former prominent SCC judges and four former judges of the High Court, the country's supreme court, with "high treason" - a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia - in its first secret hearing of the case on February 16, 2023, said . The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results By Coconuts Bangkok Oct 31, 2014 | 5:40pm Bangkok time Preliminary results today found no link between Warot Tuwichian and DNA police say was collected from the scene of two murders on Koh Tao last month. However, the event did not materially affect tourism to the island over the following years. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? Available for both RF and RM licensing. 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. Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. 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.. The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. [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. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. CTN News. [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". Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. Thai police are investigating their deaths as . They also found a suicide note at the scene. With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. Police investigators have released photographs and clearer video footage of an unidentified man they believe could be a key to resolving the Koh Tao double-murder case and are asking the. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. Six weeks on . [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. Staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. While his death was ruled as suicide cops could not explain why his hands are tied behind his back. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. [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". "We asked for a copy of the CCTV footage and they said it was destroyed. [36] Footage near the crime scene also showed one of the three men running into a shortcut. [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. [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. Thailands prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, questioned the attire and behavior of foreign female tourists shortly after the killing of two British backpackers, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the island in 2014. 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. [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. "I got him home and they had a proper postmortem - most of his bones were broken but the one bone that wasn't broken was his neck and there was no evidence of his face looking towards his back. I am a legal practitioner in Perth, Western Australia who has been following events on Koh Tao very closely since the time of the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on 15 September 2014. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. Although Koh Tao is one of the . The family claimed the circumstances surrounding his death and the local police's refusal to co-operate with them have led them to believe the death is "suspicious". Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs, and face. [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. Download videos of River diver on Depositphotos Millions of high-quality, royalty-free stock videos, footage and clips at affordable prices. 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. 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. 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. "They did a visual post-mortem - just by looking at him they said he died of a broken neck and that his face was looking towards his back. 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. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop on New Years Day 2014. [53], The prosecution's case focused on findings of the police and medical examiner, with an emphasis on the DNA evidence. [62] They were both also charged with entering the country illegally, to which Wai Phyo had already confessed. "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. It doesn't necessarily mean they are transgender, or that they are doing drag, they just live as women. GermanBernd Grotsch, 47, was found deadat his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. [93] Amid the investigation, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited Koh Tao on 28 September 2014 in an attempt to reassure tourists. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. "I have no proof that Ben was murdered. Zaw Lin was not convicted of this charge because he held a work permit for the two years preceding the murders. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. Dark side of Koh Tao: The seven tourists found dead on Thailand's 'murder island' after backpacker 'eaten by lizards' Koh Tao was plunged into the spotlight when the semi-naked bodies of. [71], A lawyer for the men, Nakhon Chomphuchat, said "we will appeal as soon as we can, we have just got a copy of the court's verdict. Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. I should add that I was not representing the accused men so I am not presenting arguments on their behalf in any lawyer/client relationship. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. They suggested that she mixed antibiotics with alcohol- as much as that would make the antibiotics less efficient or make you feel bad, its not going to kill you. 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. 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. Shelley Bot 2017; The pictures, which News Corp Australia will not reproduce, were taken on the beach at Koh Tao, where the pair was hacked to death with a garden hoe, allegedly by two Burmese men who confessed to the bloody crime then withdrew their confessions. They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like, the prime minister said. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. 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. Ben Harrington 2012; Shared On: 28th Dec, 2022. He told the Sun Online: "We want justice. Their explanations as to why these kids have died just dont add up- you dont have to be a pathologist or a doctor to know what weve been told is nonsensical.. Available for both RF and RM licensing. 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. And the same goes for Luke Millers mum Sara Cotton. [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. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. Death sentences in Koh Tao killings commuted. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. 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". The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. The bricklayer from Newport, Isle of Wight, was found at the bottom of the pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach in January 2016. 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. Friends and family remain suspicious of the police investigation and the insistence that Dimitri committed suicide, especially as his hands were tied behind his back. The island off the Surat Thani province coast has gained notoriety after a string of suspicious and sensationalised deaths over the years. And at least six young Brits have all died in suspicious circumstances on the small island of Koh Tao, leading their loved ones to label it "Death Island". 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. 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.. 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. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The pictures, which News Corp Australia will not reproduce, were taken on the beach at Koh Tao, where the pair was hacked to death with a garden hoe, allegedly by two Burmese men who confessed to the bloody crime then withdrew their confessions. 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. There were apparently no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the hotel where Alexandr had been staying. We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. German Bernd Grotsch's body was found at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. British woman, Christina Annesley, 23, was found in a room at the In Touch Resort on Jan 21, 2015. The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . [1][15][16] Miller's body was found floating in the water, and Witheridge's on the beach;[17] the bodies lay approximately 20 metres apart and 30 metres away from their hotel (Ocean View Bungalows). 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.. It has over 100 hotels and resorts and was deemed the busiest diving centre in Southeast Asia in 2014. The autopsy stated he had drowned. 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. Photo from Sept 15 showing a police officer questioning Christopher Alan Ware, who has re-emerged as a leading suspect in the murder of a young British man and woman on Koh Tao on Monday in. However, no toxicology report was conducted. The governor of the island said he had instructed the district chief to file criminal charges against the local online news outlet Samui Times in 2017 after it ran an article that questioned the police account of deaths and referred to Koh Tao as Death Island. 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. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. He had recently returned to the island after building up a motorbike rental business. Thai authorities claimed he was drunk and fell, but his family believes he was murdered.. A Thai/Indian couple circa June 2021. Also on the list of unexplained tourist deaths are French Dimitri Povse, 29, who was found hanged in a bungalow on New Year's Day 2015. On Tuesday, new details emerged as police investigated the death of a wealthy billionaire industrialist and his wife on Ko Tao last Friday. The body of his 55-year-old mother was only found later when rescue services arrived at the scene. The former founder of the Samui Times suggests in her new book The curse of the Turtle, released earlier this month by WildBlue Press, that something fishy is going on on that island., She challenges the validity of the investigations conducted by the Thai police claiming she has a lot of evidence and speaks of powerful local families running the island without having to comply with any laws.