Miller, a year older and from Jersey, one of the U.K.s Channel Islands, had likewise suffered deep lacerations to his skull before drowning in the shallow surf. They beat me and put a bag over my head, humiliating me by taking pictures and a video, he said. These rocks are no strangers to explosive secrets. Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. Both were found dead early on the morning of September 15. Burmese migrants Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were convicted of the . [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. [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. They said Wai Phyo found the mobile phone dropped on the beach, and so he kept it. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have been named as the two tourists who chopped up by a hoe in Thailand. Its also reported that Witheridge had been raped prior to her death, those reports were later found to be unfounded. [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. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". But the seemingly idyllic paradise of Koh Tao, once known as Turtle Island, has turned from beauty to horror as a string of brutal murders and unexplained disappearances have rocked the community Sean . What Have Happened to Hannah Witheridge and David Miller? Where Have You have reached your limit of free articles. According to reports, David and Hannah arrived separately on the island with their friends on August 25, 2014. [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015,. Koh Tao is very safe, says Mayor Chaiyan. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were killed in Thailand in 2014 Aug 17, 2020 Rex The two Burmese men who were jailed for killing British backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David. [3] The murders were the first cases of homicide on the island in over eight years. And the shambolic investigation also didnt help.. "The final admittance of their guilt has allowed this act of clemency to become possible," they continued. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". Home; Service. [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". Koh Tao's dark side: dangers of island where Britons were murdered But many have concerns that the scene was contaminated immediately after the discovery of the bodies; myriad officials, journalists and even bewildered tourists were seen traipsing through the area while evidence was still being gathered. Her autopsy report showed she had been raped and killed by blows to the head. hannah witheridge and david miller - diyalab.com [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. Because we have learned for generations to take care of visitors. A brand new police station has been built with 40 full-time officers replacing the five previously based here. [36] Footage near the crime scene also showed one of the three men running into a shortcut. There were 362 U.K. citizens who met their end in Thailand in 2014, more so even than in France, which attracts almost 20 times as many British visitors. [62] They were both also charged with entering the country illegally, to which Wai Phyo had already confessed. A post-mortem examination showed she had been raped. Koh Tao murders, which created an international frenzy when two young British tourists, Hannah Witheridge, and David Miller, were found murdered in September 2014. The sweet reek of marijuana is commonplace even in prominent beachfront bars, while cocaine and crystal meth, known locally as yaba or crazy drug, are not hard to find, say locals. Lin and Phyo (also known asWin Zaw Htun)were sentenced to death for the murder of Mr Miller and the murder and rape of Ms Witheridge. Mr and Mrs Miller, from St Helier, said: "Every moment we miss our son. The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. [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. The Supreme Court of Thailandupheld the sentence in August 2019. 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. [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. Analytical Services; Analytical Method Development and Validation [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. There are no official figures for the number of expats who call Thailand home, but it likely runs into the hundreds of thousands. Scared is right. WHEN Susan Witheridge heard her daughter Hannah wanted to go to Thailand she was terrified. "We hope that these two murderers will now spend a very, very long time in jail where they cannot harm other families and will have time to reflect on the consequences of their acts.". However, the defense counsel argued all the evidence against the defendants was circumstantial, and the police had no known eyewitness to the murders. 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.. Beach cleaners discovered the Britons . He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. Some work on fishing boats for years without seeing land, getting passed between trawlers, catching fish, squid and shrimp for American dinner tables. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. However, a lawyer for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo told the BBC that the pair had not admitted their guilt when their death sentences were commuted. He was found hiding on the boat later on 2 October. Drugs play a key role. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. V z 2014 23let absolventka University of East Anglia, kter studovala magistersk titul v oboru logopedie. The Case of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller-Death Island According to reports, the police sought his friend, who shared a room with David, in the double homicide, and a nationwide manhunt was launched. Ringed by coral gardens and teeming with kaleidoscope shoals of tropical fish, it was primarily known, until now, for its diving. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. He was brought in for questioning on October 1, and he stated he was not present when the murders took place. Thailands National Human Rights Commission investigated these allegations, but progress has been glacial, not least because police representatives failed to turn up to four arranged meetings. Possessing no official status or documents, their vulnerability is extreme, and complaints of rape, extortion and physical violence are legion. The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. Post-mortems found that Hannah had died from head wounds, while engineering student Mr Miller suffered severe blows to his head and drowned. Thai murder: David Miller died from head injuries - BBC News The bodies of David Miller, 24, from Jersey and Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. Wai Phyo, a Real Madrid fanatic who idolizes FIFA world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, moves a virtually hairless top lip as he talks. One of the three suspected individuals was identified as Mau Mau, a local living nearby. However, a lawyer for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo told the BBC that the pair had not admitted their guilt when their death sentences were commuted. Officials deny claims of torture and reports that men accused of killing Hannah Witheridge and David Miller withdrew confessions Jamie Doward Sat 11 Oct 2014 07.15 EDT Last modified on Sat 2 Dec . However, the event did not materially affect tourism to the island over the following years. islands volcanic inception. [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". Sister of murdered Brit backpacker died 9 weeks into pregnancy and 'no The family said it had brought to a close a "lengthy and disturbing period" where activists on social media had attempted to influence justice in Thailand and public opinion elsewhere. Dabid had also suffered deep lacerations to his skull before drowning in the shallow surf. Miss Witheridge, a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey, were bludgeoned to death. Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, a seaside town on the English east coast, had been raped and killed by blows to the head. But generally they lose their lives through traffic accidents, overdoses and suicides. Naked bodies of two British tourists found on Thai beach | PIX11 Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. [52] The suspects were defended pro bono by two lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Migrant workers convicted of murdering Hannah Witheridge and David The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. Even though recent quasi-democratic reforms have seen an influx of tourist dollars and the rolling back of sanctions, that means little for the nations rural poor. Hannah Witheridge & David Miller: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were killed in September 2014, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were convicted of the murders in a Thai court and originally sentenced to death, The bodies of Mr Miller and Miss Witheridge were found on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Lin and Phyo (also known asWin Zaw Htun)were sentenced to death for the murder of Mr Miller and the murder and rape of Ms Witheridge. The families of Miller and Witheridge even put out a statement saying the evidence against Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo was powerful and convincing. This assertion was facilitated by the U.K. Foreign Office despite being prejudicial toward the possibility of a fair trial. The police quickly elicited a confession and, after a macabre reconstruction of the murders before a swarm of media including a staged session of penitent prayers by the accused probably hoped that the case looked closed. Mr Miller's family said they were "grateful" to the Thai king. These samples purportedly match those retrieved from Witheridges corpse. He added that they would if they are not beautiful., Prayuth soon backtracked on his remarks on travelers, saying, Sometimes I speak too strongly. But virtually his next breath again sought to assign blame: We have to help take care of [our nation], he said, and not let not-good people mingle with us, such as unregistered alien workers., Investigators had already steered their attention to migrant workers, via a friend of the deceased, and the son of a local headman, who were briefly considered as suspects. [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. Greg Shepherd, 34, from Luton in the U.K., tells TIME he witnessed a man getting shot in the face in a bar north of Sairee Beach in the mid-2000s. According to Kingsley Abbott, Southeast Asia legal expert for the International Commission of Jurists, 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.. David worked as an intern in the St Helier offices of the Australian mining company Consolidated Minerals. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. Burmese bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun were found guilty of murder in 2015. Sky News reports that Miller was chopped in the back and the side of his head, Witheridges injuries were to her head. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? So, if youre interested in finding out more about the case, including the perpetrators identities, heres what we know. [93] Amid the investigation, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited Koh Tao on 28 September 2014 in an attempt to reassure tourists. Dehumanizing as it sounds, they are a commodity for some people., Asked whether he has a message for his compatriots considering working in Thailand, Wai Phyo simply says, Be careful when you go out at night as you might step in the wrong place., WE HAVE LEARNED TO TAKE CARE OF VISITORS. Over the coming weeks we hope to gain a better understanding as to how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a horrible way, said Millers family in a statement at the opening of the trial. It has over 100 hotels and resorts and was deemed the busiest diving centre in Southeast Asia in 2014. [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. The pairs trial began on July 8, 2015, with the prosecution highlighting the DNA evidence and police findings as their primary strategy. [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. Death Island on Apple Podcasts Powered by. However, the Thai police have denied these allegations and termed them baseless. Then, most stupidly, the two suspects suddenly "admitted" to the crime, after having been found with bruises. Write to Charlie Campbell at charlie.campbell@time.com. The two were said to have been backpackers going through the tiny island of Koh Tao. According to the prosecutors, the defendants used the garden hoe to knock Hannah unconscious and held her down as they raped her before murdering her. Only if they are not beautiful." In general, tourists are almost comically unaware of this malevolent undercurrent. In September 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller only met by chance while backpacking on the island, but when their bodies were found together on Sairee Beach, they would become linked forever by a tragic mystery. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. [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. Case 220: Hannah Witheridge & David Miller : r/Casefile - Reddit [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Like the Millers, the Witheridge family initially offered no comment on worries about a miscarriage of justice after the arrested men said they had been tortured to extract confessions. Thai king commutes Myanmar men's death sentence over Britons' murder, Thailand backpacker murders: Burmese workers sentenced to death, British backpacker murder case that put Thailand on trial, WhyUK role in backpackers murder case still worries rights groups, Why UK role in case still worries rights groups, in a statement released by the Foreign Office. Speaking exclusively to TIME at Koh Samui Prison, both appear much younger than their 22 years. Read about our approach to external linking. Thailand: Koh Tao Murder Trial Exposed. Ugly Truth of 'Land of Smiles [38] Police entered the home the next day; only one of the men, Zaw Lin, was present. "But in the end the truth has been revealed," the couple added. One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. With no leads or suspects, the police wildly speculated who the culprit might be as they alleged several individuals to be the supposed killer without any evidence. True Crime: In September of 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on Koh Tao's famous Sairee beach, dead. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. Both bodies were found lying on a beach, stripped naked and bloodied. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve. How Did Steven Beirnes Die. Hannah Witheridge, 23,front left, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, middle right, from Jersey, were brutally killed on the island of Koh Tao last September They had no prior criminal records. A verdict is expected in October and they could face the death penalty if convicted. She was buried the following month near her family home following a service billed as a celebration of her life, with mourners encouraged to wear bright colours. A royal decree said the sentences had been reviewed to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday on 28 July and to "illustrate the king's clemency". Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 22-year-old ethnic Rakhine from Burmas restive Arakan state, were arrested on Oct. 2. Court documents claimed David was killed while attempting to stop the defendants from murdering his friend. 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 rooms and serve drinks to the coppery throngs of tourists. Her housemate Lucy Dunkley said, No one could say a bad word about her. By the time dawn broke over Koh Tao, the beach had been . These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. He hailed fromJersey, a Crown Dependency, and graduated from Victoria College in 2008. Despite so many alleged loopholes in the investigation procedure, the court found Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo guilty of murder and sentenced them to death on December 24, 2015. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller's bodies were found on a beach in Koh Tao in September 2014 Two Burmese migrants convicted over the killings had their death sentences reduced to life. All Rights Reserved. As the investigation . The family of murdered backpacker Hannah Witheridge has been hit by a fresh tragedy with the sudden death of her sister. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. Two Burmese migrants were convicted over the killings of Hannah Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller, from Jersey, in 2015. The Daily Telegraph reports that the two were seen leaving a bar at around 1 a.m. Sky News reports that Witheridge had been traveling with three friends. Miss Witheridge, a University of Essex student from Hemsby, Norfolk and Mr Miller, a civil and . david and hannah thailand crime scene photos - flagpin.com (Thailand is the worlds third-largest seafood exporter.) Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? I did feel safe, but that is scary.. Photograph: PA The island, two hours by boat from the nearest airport, has a low-key, undeveloped feel. [11], An autopsy revealed that both victims were hit by a hard object, resulting in head and face wounds. Little wonder the conversational staple of many long-term expats is, These are the worst Thais in Thailand.. But it unraveled just as quickly. This was very different. Death Island podcast follows the Koh Tao murders, which created an international frenzy when two young British tourists, Hannah Witheridge, and David Miller, were found murdered in September 2014. One of his former teachers,Alan Hamel, reminisced, He was a young man of enormous potential and particularly a talented artist. So, if youre interested in finding out more about the case, including the perpetrators identities, heres what we know. Hannah Witheridge pictured on Facebook back in September 2013. A year after Millers death his parents unveiled a memorial for him, a bench on the north coast of his home island, inscribed, Never let a person sit alone. The DNA specialist conceded the perpetuators could've used gloves. The seven tourists found dead on Thailand's 'murder island' [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.

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