The two are charged with the murder of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on . [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. Death sentences in Koh Tao killings commuted. After unsuccessfully trying to find their possessions, they walked towards Mau Mau's house through the shortcut, which resulted in them being caught on CCTV. [42][43] The police said the suspects' DNA matched a sample of semen taken from Witheridge's body, and to the hoe and cigarette butts found near the body. 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). [15] Public prosecutors initially rejected the report, asking for "certain flaws" to be fixed, more information to be supplied, and for the report to be made "more succinct". Four months later, eight bodies were found after a cartel murder spree. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. He was travelling Southeast Asia with a friend after completing a six-week work placement in Australia with a mining company,[6][8][9] and arrived in Thailand in August. GermanBernd Grotsch, 47, was found deadat his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. 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.. A Japanese high court approved Monday a posthumous retrial for a man who was convicted of murdering a 69-year-old woman in 1984 in western Japan, upholding a lower court's decision. Eight days later locals living near Tanote Bay found Elise's body after becoming suspicious of a monitor lizard going back and forth into the jungle. Shelley Bot 2017; Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. "They won't come forward because they know something is going to happen to them," he added. We are furious that we have not been able to have an approved independent forensic examination.". [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. A coroner ruled in 2017 said that there is "no evidence" to suggest Luke was murdered. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. Thai police are investigating their deaths as . Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. Hannah was also raped in the attack. He told the Sun Online: "We want justice. [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). The team were only allowed to spend two hours on Koh Tao and did not meet with the suspects or defence. Their bodies were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last September. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. [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. 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. We are like one big family, weve been through this journey for the past seven years together. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". Photograph: Alamy. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. Through their own investigation, and talking to witnesses Mr. Annesley discovered that the room where his daughter was staying was given to someone else "three hours after her body was taken. [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. [55], The defence claimed that the investigation was flawed due to mishandling of forensic evidence, lack of legal representation during interrogations, use of threats and intimidation to secure a confession, and intimidation of witnesses. Controversially, Surat Thani governor Auaychai Innak dismissed as untrue some foreign news reports which claimed reptiles had eaten half of Dallemagne's body. Anthony Cardullo 2013 (USA); There were apparently no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the hotel where Alexandr had been staying. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. The authorities said he had died after striking the diving board from which he was jumping. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. While his death was ruled as suicide cops could not explain why his hands are tied behind his back. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Are there serial killers operating on the island, with their crimes apparently insufficiently investigated so that the tourist industry remains protected? The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. The Mirror reports that Hannahs family have pleaded for the photos of the pair, who were brutally murdered on a Thailand beach, to be taken off the internet. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to ask that Hannah be allowed a well-deserved day of privacy on Friday whilst we join her many friends in a celebration of her life.. Elise went 1.5 miles (2.5km) through the jungle to Tanote Bay and took a room at the Poseidon Resort where she booked another ticket for Bangkok leaving on April 24. [38] Police entered the home the next day; only one of the men, Zaw Lin, was present. Phone records showed that Elise called her mother on Skype on April 17, 2017, before leaving Koh Phangan on a Ferry on April 19. While police claimed that she hanged herself, mystery surrounded her death, as it was revealed she used a fake name at the hostel she was staying. Two migrant workers from Myanmar on death row for the 2014 murder of two British backpackers on Koh Tao have had their sentences commuted to life in . [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. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. Six weeks on . Rocio Gomez; At the end of the trial's third day, the judge said police had informed him all the samples taken on the island were "finished" - meaning they could not be analysed again. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. I just listened to your full podcast about Koh Tao with considerable interest. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. 92 Visitor. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The families are not satisfied with the investigation by the Thai authorities, Christina Annesley was found dead on the beach in January 2015, Thai authorities said Ben Harrington,32, died when he crashed during a moped ride, The families have not been satisfied with the investigation of the Thai authorities, Luke Miller was found dead at the bottom of a pool, Elise Dallemange was found dead in the jungle in Koh Tao, The Curse of the turtle was released earlier this month, Bernd Grotsch from Germany was found dead at his house in Koh Tao, Valentina Novozhyonova vanished from her hostel, Suzanne Buchanan is determined to find out the truth about Koh Tao, Our kids all died on Koh Tao death island cops claim they were accidents but we think they were MURDERED, Headteacher sacked 'after sending parents a list of striking teachers' as school launches probe, Isle of Innisfree ferry: Blaze breaks out on boat carrying 183 people in English Channel as lifeboats scramble to scene. [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. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. Bergen Area, Norway. 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 Koh Samui Provincial Court has set 24 December as the date to deliver its judgement on two Myanmar men, Zaw Lin and Zaw Ein Htun (aka Wai Phyo), who are accused of murdering two British tourists on Thailand's Koh Tao Island on September 15 last year. I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. 8.4K views 2 years ago Dedication to 20 foreigners who died on Koh Tao. Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs, and face. 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. Owner of Martin Totland Freelance LLC, specializing in event photography, freelance journalism, and Norwegian . Buchanan who left Thailand in 2016 after receiving death threats for her reporting, reached out to the victims' families and formed a support group. There is an alternative bus and ferry service run by Songserm, which is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. His body was found at the beach at the Hillside Resort on Koh Tao, on January 1, 2014. [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. [11] The two met in Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. Staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. German Bernd Grotsch's body was found at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. 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). Nick Pearson 2014; [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. Koh Tao Murders March 28, 2022 courtneyjfretwell Uncategorized 1 Comment In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailand's island of Koh Tao. The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. Allegations about police brutality rocked the countrys economy that almost solely relies on tourism. "As long as I can breathe I will keep trying to find answers.". 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. Hotels near The Heart of Chechnya Hotels near State Gallery named after A. Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. 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. [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. The murders on Koh Tao, a laid-back haven for divers, sullied Thailand's image in the tourism industry, which accounts for about 10 per cent of the country's economy. Nick's mother Tracy Pearson, told Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court in the U.K., she had "a gut feeling there was foul play". In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. [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. 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. "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. My YouTube channel is called KOH TAO MURDERS DEATH ISLAND. Cart. Nick's father, Graham, had been the last person to see him when he walked with his son back to where the family was staying. 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. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. [2] In 2014, the island had a population of around 5,000 locals. Samui Times defended its reporting in an online post. [53], The prosecution's case focused on findings of the police and medical examiner, with an emphasis on the DNA evidence. 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. They had no prior criminal records. [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. Most mainstream media provide only superficial accounts of what has been happening on the island and their published information is often inaccurate and understated the seriousness of the situation. 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. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . Posts on social media said Dallemagne had booked a ticket to Chumphon province, on the mainland, and that her luggage arrived after her death, raising questions of her intentions to take her own life. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms.
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