We won't comment on the trial process. 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. A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. 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? 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.. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. Hiroshi 2002; 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. 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. Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. All times AEDT (GMT +11). 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". [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". [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop by scuba divers in the sea after he disappeared following a night out with his family on New Year's Eve. Hanspeter Suter 2014; [51][56][57] They argued that the defendants, since they were vulnerable as illegal migrant workers, were scapegoated by the police for the crime. I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. Defence lawyers had asked for the samples to be independently verified but have now been told there is nothing left of them to re-test. Koh Tao (also Ko Tao) - literally Turtle Island in the Chumphon Archipelago. 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. [11] The two met in Koh Tao while staying at the same hotel. They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like, the prime minister said. [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. In December 2015, the pair were convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. [2] In 2014, the island had a population of around 5,000 locals. 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 . On February 16, 2015, Russian tourist Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao. 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. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/world/asia/thailand-koh-tao-death-island.html#:~:text=But%20among%20some%20foreigners%2C%20Koh,began%20calling%20it%20Death%20Island.&text=She%20accused%20the%20police%20of,up%20crime%20on%20the%20island. [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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. 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. 10 July 2015. She added: The families of all the victims are not happy with the police reports, autopsy reports in Thailand dont match autopsy reports in the UK. "They said they were going to cremate him the next day - I had to call the Home Office to stop the cremation. I was good friends with a few and they were all restaurant/bar owners. The body had to be identified using dental records and previous X-rays. 2040 / 2557, Regional Court of Appeal VIII No. [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. [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. They also found a suicide note at the scene. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Find the perfect koh tao murder stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. It covers an area of about 21 km2. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK. [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. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. 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. 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. Some 200 children have died in one nation after taking toxic cough syrups. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. It will take a bit of time to find loopholes to appeal. The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. 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. Derby coroner Louise Pinder said there was not enough evidence to say how he died and recorded an open verdict. It doesn't necessarily mean they are transgender, or that they are doing drag, they just live as women. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. But many cases appear very suspicious according to family members and insufficiently investigated. He originally moved to the island in the late 1990s but left in 2016 after becoming frustrated with the corruption and hostility towards foreign business owners. 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. UK reporter Suzanne Buchanan has thoroughly investigated the cases alongside the deaths of Belgian Elise Dellemange, Swiss Hans Peter Suter and French Dimitri Povse -who also were also found dead under mysterious circumstances. Amnesty International has demanded the Thai authorities investigate the torture allegations after one suspect reportedly said he was beaten and threatened with electrocution. Thai authorities claimed he was drunk and fell, but his family believes he was murdered.. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. 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. [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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. There were no signs of a struggle or rape or other human DNA. [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. "[56] Attempts to appeal the sentence to the High Court in 2017 were unsuccessful. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Mr Sachathamakul's wife, Anshoo. 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.. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. ", Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. Koh Tao Murder - Thai Police, their scapegoats and tourist trade - Exposed by AnonymousThis video goes into the deep facts of the recent Koh Tao Island murder of David Miller and Hannah. 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. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. (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 . He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. Belgian backpacker Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanging from a tree on April 27, 2017. 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.. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. There were no signs he was suicidal. She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. She added: "They didn't do any investigation at all. [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. The following morning the family raised the alarm when Nick failed to answer the door. That is awful. "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. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. ", The dad added that some of the witnesses they spoke to were "too frightened" to come forward which shows "how the culture is.". Nick Pearson 2014; Hannah Witheridge and David Miller koh tao, The horrific rape and murder of Sophie Louise Hook whilst camping in her Uncle's garden, The miracle rescue of Alan Lee Phillips at Colorados Guanella Pass - the man who turned out to be a serial killer, The chilling story of Thomas Lee Dillon - the Ohio Outdoorsmen killer, The miraculous escape of the Brazilian and German backpackers at Salt Creek in South Australia, Robert Hansen Butcher Baker - the Alaska Serial killer who hunted his victims in the wilderness, The shocking unsolved Keddie Cabin murders, The disturbing death of Fiona Torbet in the Scottish highlands, The unsolved Williams and Winans camping murders in Shenandoah National Park, The real Wolf Creek - The Backpacker Murders in the Australian Outback, The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders, The mysterious death of Carol Laughlin in Yosemite National Park, The disturbing disappearance of the Beaumont children on Glenelg Beach, The Kamloops Triangle - The British Columbia murders and disappearances, The Delphi hiking murders - Abigail Williams and Liberty German, The Peter Falconio disappearance in the Australian Outback, The unsolved murder of Scott Lilly on the Appalachian trail, The disturbing case of James Jordan - The Appalachian Trail Murderer. It is always challenging to bring ACCURATE & RELIABLE information about violent crime on Koh Tao because too many people are frightened to speak out publicly and still others try to SHOOT THE MESSENGERS . [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. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . [1] Receiving half a million visitors each year,[1] Koh Tao is especially popular with backpackers and known for its marine life and scuba diving. Silje Mathisen 2014; From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. 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. 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. DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. 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). [66], On 24 December 2015, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were found guilty of murdering Witheridge and Miller by the three judges, and were sentenced to death. On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. Anthony Cardullo 2013 (USA); 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. 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. 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. [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. [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. [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). Khao San Lomprayah - 2100 arrives Koh Tao 0845 > check prices for Bangkok to Koha Tao night bus and ferry and book now. International experts criticized the DNA testing done by the hospital at the time with claims that samples were tampered with in order to falsely incriminate two Burmese workers. Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. Koh Tao murders: 'Asian man' seen on CCTV sought for q uestioning Probe into murder of two Britons on Koh Tao Manhunt on Koh Tao after tourists found brutally murdere d on beach British tourists murdered, stripped on Koh Tao beach Topics: Bangkok, Features Join the Coconuts conversation with a comment. Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. Controversially, Surat Thani governor Auaychai Innak dismissed as untrue some foreign news reports which claimed reptiles had eaten half of Dallemagne's body. Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? 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". [36] Footage near the crime scene also showed one of the three men running into a shortcut. Dimitri Povse 2015; However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. The convictions were mired in controversy, with supporters of the two men arguing they had been framed because their initial confessions were made under duress. These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. 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. koh tao murders crime scene photos. 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. 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. Tony Witheridge bowed his head as bloody images of. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. Her mother, Michele claimed that Elise used a fake name of 'Elise Dubuis' to check into the Triple B Bungalows next to Mae Head Pier on Koh Tao. Only if they are not beautiful." This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Now their families are demanding answers. Owner of Martin Totland Freelance LLC, specializing in event photography, freelance journalism, and Norwegian . 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 are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements. About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. [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. 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). They told me 'you need to stop reporting on it if you want to stay here, they are getting fed up with you now, No one put a gun to my head but I was told by multiple sources that if I didnt stop reporting on it thered be trouble- it wasnt safe for me anymore.". New Zealand's Minisrty of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says 185 Kiwis are registered as being in the flood affected areas of Koh Samui and Koh Tao and parts of southern Thailand, including . The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. 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. But, he said that most of these would have been present prior to his death, although he could not completely rule out the possibility that Nick had been attacked. In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. [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. [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. Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. The island off the Surat Thani province coast has gained notoriety after a string of suspicious and sensationalised deaths over the years. 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. Download videos of River diver on Depositphotos Millions of high-quality, royalty-free stock videos, footage and clips at affordable prices.
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