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But in Thailand, the police perform the entire process. Miss Witheridge, a University of Essex student from Hemsby, Norfolk and Mr Miller, a civil and . [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. [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. Sister, 30, of murdered backpacker Hannah Witheridge dies "Our thoughts are also with the Witheridge family and the tragic loss of their daughter. Post-mortems found that Hannah had died from head wounds, while engineering student Mr Miller suffered severe blows to his head and drowned. 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.Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. Death Island: The Case of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller en Apple [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." Witheridge is a native of Great Yarmouth in the Southwest coast of England. The trial drew wide criticism from the international press and human rights groups. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. [80][81], The Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, said "[foreign female tourists] think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller suspects 'thought she was being Zaw Lin, as pimply as any teen, chats eagerly of his love of Manchester United and star Portuguese winger Nani. All Rights Reserved. Traditional longtail boats, a rainbow of scarves adorning their bows, bob on the lapping water of the glistening bay. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Far from official oversight, de facto control falls to the owners of booming hospitality businesses that were developed on land originally obtained, via government concessions, for coconut plantations. [26][27] However, her clothes were not tested for DNA. However, according to Rhys Bonney, an immigration adviser to expats in Thailand, even the legality of scuba-diving instructors is an extremely gray area as Thai work permits are specific to particular company premises. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, This Septic Isle: Backpackers, Bloodshed and the Secretive World of Koh Tao. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. For while the surf has washed the blood from the sand, and life returns to normal for the islands hodgepodge of wealthy and penniless inhabitants, one fact remains clear: not just the boulders hide secrets on Koh Tao. Naturally, a pall of silence engulfs this clannish, cliquey atoll, owing in no small part to the legal standing of its foreign contingent. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. 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. A post-mortem examination showed she had been raped. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. Witheridge was a graduate from the University of East Anglia who had been studying for a masters degree in speech and language therapy. Once youve been living there for a while, youll turn a blind eye to some pretty sketchy stuff, says Mike Earley, 30, from New Zealand, who spent six months on the island working as a DJ. Hannah had been bludgeoned to death a few feet from her room door alongside her fellow British tourist David Miller. A mute Burmese beach cleaner discovered the bodies shortly after dawn the following morning at Ocean View Bungalows. Only if they are not beautiful." Their sentences have been reviewed to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and to show his "clemency". [64], Several CCTV cameras near the crime scene were reported to be nonfunctional, and cameras near the pier were not checked by the police. Miller, a year older and from Jersey, one of the U.K.'s Channel. . Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have been named as the two tourists who chopped up by a hoe in Thailand. Since then, he had managed to send back almost $2,000 to help his destitute family. [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). They were at the bar with around 50 people mostly foreign tourists before they left together after 1:00 am. (Police deny these allegations.). Thailand backpacker murders: Burmese workers sentenced to death There are no official figures for the number of expats who call Thailand home, but it likely runs into the hundreds of thousands. 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. 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. 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. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. One belonged to David, and one belonged to an unknown Asian male. The police found a garden hoe and a wooden club nearby, which were quickly determined as the principal murder weapons. They were seen buying beer and cigarettes before taking a shortcut route to Sairee Beach. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. All rights reserved. Thai court upholds death penalty over murder of two Britons Read about our approach to external linking. [29][30] The police initially speculated about who the culprit might be, alleging various individuals of perpetrating the crime without clear evidence. Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015, after being found guilty of killing David Miller, 24, of Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, of Norfolk. Cat-and-mouse chase with China in hotly contested sea, Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. "Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo finally admitted to the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge and the murder of our son.". A verdict is expected in October and they could face the death penalty if convicted. Their senseless deaths sparked international outrage and raised questions about justice on Koh Tao. (modern). They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, Ding becomes China's first male world chess champion, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. She was a real natural with them.. [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. 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. He was brought in for questioning on October 1, and he stated he was not present when the murders took place. 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. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. [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]. Is climate change killing Australian wine? [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. They were identified as 24-year-old David Miller and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, [] View Photo Gallery (PIX11/CNN) A British man and woman were found dead on a popular resort island in . [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Both had been in Thailand since August and had met just hours before their deaths. [3] The murders were the first cases of homicide on the island in over eight years. Her autopsy report showed she had been raped and killed by blows to the head. 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. David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, didn't know each other before they met on holiday in Thailand in September. [1], A defence team from Bangkok, composed of nearly 20 lawyers, were only permitted half an hour to meet the men; a request by the defence to delay the hearing and allow more time to prepare was denied by a judge at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Most are running guesthouses, eateries and scuba-diving operations or working as diving instructors. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. [83] A 2016 study said the case, which it described as a litmus test of Thailand's justice system, "seriously damaged the image of Thailand and of its forces of law and order on the global level". Ive not been threatened, but Ive too much to lose, he says. Thai beach murders: Hannah Witheridge's sister Laura dies in hospital They had no prior criminal records. In a statement, Ian and Sue Miller, who have campaigned against the death penalty, said: "We are grateful to His Majesty the King of Thailand for showing his clemency to the murderers of our son David. The next in size is Koh Phangan, home of the infamous Full Moon parties, with a reputation for drugs and debauchery. Sister of murdered backpacker Hannah Witheridge was pregnant when she grassroots elite basketball ; why does ted lasso have a southern accent . ; However, the death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment following a royal decree commemorating King Vajiralongkorns birthday. But in December, in a statement released by the Foreign Office, they said they were confident in the Thai polices work. [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. "[56] Attempts to appeal the sentence to the High Court in 2017 were unsuccessful. True Crime: In September of 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on Koh Tao's famous Sairee beach, dead. [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. 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. The bodies of Mr Miller and Miss Witheridge were found on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao in 2014. The two young tourists were killed in the early hours of 15 September, 2014, after which their relatives endured a long wait for justice. Will [tourists] survive in Thailand if they dress in bikinis? he asked Sept. 17. Mr and Mrs Miller, from St Helier, said: "Every moment we miss our son. 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". Others labor for long hours under the burning sun farming pineapples, exposed to hazardous doses of pesticides and other chemicals. That the victims were tourists automatically drew more attention, says Thai political analyst Saksith Saiyasombut. [85][15][86] Prayut said that British and Burmese government representatives were "limited to observation" and had to "respect our processes". 2023 BBC. By the time dawn broke over Koh Tao, the beach had been . "Our thoughts are also with the Witheridge family and the tragic loss of their daughter. This is troubling when set against the allegations of torture made by the accused. [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". Friend of slain tourist flees over 'mafia' threat | Independent.ie I think my lasting memory of him will be his smile, wonderful sense of humor, and ability to put his ideas across with conviction and thoughtfulness. David, then 24, had recently graduated in civil and structural engineering from the University of Leeds and planned onstarting a masters degree. Thai king commutes sentence of UK pairs killers, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies. mi.) Case 220: Hannah Witheridge & David Miller : r/Casefile - Reddit As the investigation continues and new evidence emerges, it seems that the . Photograph: PA The island, two hours by boat from the nearest airport, has a low-key, undeveloped feel. Defence lawyers claimed. Hannah Witheridge (left), 23, and David Miller, 24, were killed on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September 2015. 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. [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". 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. 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. [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. He hailed fromJersey, a Crown Dependency, and graduated from Victoria College in 2008. [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. ITV reports that the suspect may be a friend of either Witheridge or Miller. News reports stated officers rounded up200 alleged suspects, most migrant workers, and used mass DNA testing. And right in the foreground, rising proudly from sliver sands, protrude a scattering of granite boulders, a furtive relic of this tranquil 21-sq-km (8 sq. Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on 15 September last year. Analytical Services; Analytical Method Development and Validation 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. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. 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. Expats dont want to lose their time in paradise, Earley says, as its cheap, its nice living, and its very easy to ignore what happens.. Thai beach murders: Death sentence upheld by Supreme Court [42] In the trial, the prosecution said the phone was found smashed at the home of a friend of Zaw Lin's. [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. bubble tea consumption statistics australia. Sean McAnna, a terrified friend of murdered David Miller, flees Koh Tao According to reports, Davids family welcomed the commutation of the sentence. Koh Tao's dark side: dangers of island where Britons were murdered 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. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. So sad to hear that young man murdered in Thailand was Jerseyman David Miller. Both were found dead early on the morning of September 15. Hannah was also raped. Case 220: Hannah Witheridge & David Miller. Their senseless deaths sparked international outrage and raised questions about justice on Koh Tao. She was just one of those beautiful, bubbly people, amazing inside and out. 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. 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. 23 Sep 2014. Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a master's degree. Corpse photos of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on internet The family of a British backpacker killed in Thailand have welcomed a decision to commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison. Photograph: PA. Rights groups have said the pair were used as scapegoats by the . They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. WHEN Susan Witheridge heard her daughter Hannah wanted to go to Thailand she was terrified. The family of murdered backpacker Hannah Witheridge has been hit by a fresh tragedy with the sudden death of her sister. 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. However, the event did not materially affect tourism to the island over the following years. With tourism critical to Thailand's e. Vrady Hannah Witheridge a Davida Millera: Kde jsou te Zaw Lin a Wai The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. But come on. islands volcanic inception. Many believe the true culprits are local, and these suspicions were fueled after a Scottish friend of Miller fled the island claiming to have had his life threatened by local thugs. The episode tries to deconstruct the complex case for the listeners as it narrates the incidents chronologically and questions several alleged incompetencies in the murder probe. Torture allegations aside, the proceedings have been peppered with oddities. Dilleen Hempel Murder: Who Killed Her? Hannah metDavid Miller by chance when they and their friends stayed in adjoining rooms of the Ocean View Bungalows, a small backpacker complex overlooking the white sand sweep of Sairee beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. Family members of Hannah Witheridge comfort one another at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok, on Sept. 18, 2014, Burmese migrant workers Wai Phyo and Zaw Lin arrive at the Koh Samui Provincial Court, in Koh Samui, Thailand, on July 8, 2015, Police measure footprints of a man as data is collected from people who work near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found, on the island of Koh Tao, Thailand, on Sept. 19, 2014, David Miller, 24, from Jersey, left, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Great Yarmouth, Thailand is Suffering From The Worst Drought in Decades. DNA testing of casual workers was introduced and many migrants complained of rough interrogations, with some claiming that they were scalded with boiling water. Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015, after being found guilty of killing David Miller, 24, of Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, of Norfolk. When the bodies of British tourists 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller were found brutally murdered on the remote Thai island of Koh Tao, the police immediately concluded that the killer had to be a foreigner, as a Thai person couldn't be capable of such brutality. [90][91], The 2014 murders, along with other deaths and disappearances of tourists, led to British tabloids labelling Koh Tao as "Death Island". [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. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo found guilty of the murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller The victims: two lives cut short Why UK role in case worries rights groups The case that put Thailand. 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. Gruesome photos of the bloodied corpses circulated online, either leaked by officials or even taken by passersby. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. (Both families declined to comment when contacted by TIME.). [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. Hannah Witheridge & David Miller: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know Mr Miller's family said they were "grateful" to the Thai king. Ringed by coral gardens and teeming with kaleidoscope shoals of tropical fish, it was primarily known, until now, for its diving. Sister of murdered Brit backpacker died 9 weeks into pregnancy and 'no Thai king commutes sentence of UK pairs killers, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. [48][35] A 900-page police report was produced to guide the prosecution's case, but the defence were not allowed to see the report until the trial began. Home; Service. But in the early hours of 15 September last year the pair, who were together on the beach after leaving a nearby bar, died next to each other in the most horrific circumstances. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line. Sean McAnna, 25, has fled the island of Koh Tao after claiming he knows who was responsible for the murders of Hannah Witheridge and his friend, David Miller. [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. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. The island is known as a haven for scuba divers. The family of a British backpacker killed in Thailand have welcomed a decision to commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison. The pairs trial began on July 8, 2015, with the prosecution highlighting the DNA evidence and police findings as their primary strategy. The bodies of Mr Miller and Miss Witheridge were found on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao in 2014. Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. [93] Amid the investigation, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited Koh Tao on 28 September 2014 in an attempt to reassure tourists. Drugs play a key role. They took the victim away in a pickup truck and the barman just got a mop out and cleaned up the blood, he says. Mr Miller's family said they were "grateful" to the Thai king. The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. Both were. Hannah Witheridge murder: Mum begged backpacker not to go to Thailand

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