On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Exclusive location in the Kitirua Conservancy. Photographs of the bodies have been circulating on the internet. Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. Verdicts in the case are not expected until October. We had one day on Koh Tao, it was really hard.". 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. Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs, and face. [58] Ostensibly, Wai Phyo changed jobs at the end of September and was travelling by boat to Surat Thani for his new job on the day he was arrested. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. 2023 BBC. "We asked for a copy of the CCTV footage and they said it was destroyed. 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. 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. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. 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. Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. Speaking at the court, Mr Miller's father Ian said he and his wife Sue had come "with an open mind", adding that it had been an emotional time for the family. Hiroshi 2002; Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. [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). 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. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. 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. There were no signs of a struggle or rape or other human DNA. [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. 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 were apparently no signs of robbery or attack in the room at the hotel where Alexandr had been staying. Martin Totland Frilans. Deaths have been explained away by the authorities as unfortunate accidents or suicides. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. Again when Christina Annesley died police didnt interview the last person she was seen with while she was alive. Rocio Gomez; Hannah was a fun, vibrant and beautiful young woman who will be sorely missed by all who knew her. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. 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". The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. He had recently returned to the island after building up a motorbike rental business. 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. With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. She added: "They didn't do any investigation at all. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. [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. [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. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". 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. 2040 / 2557, Regional Court of Appeal VIII No. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. 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. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations". The body of his 55-year-old mother was only found later when rescue services arrived at the scene. "At first, we accepted what the Thai authorities had said because we knew no different. [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. Theres a disproportionate amount of suspicious deaths on that island- and the link is that none of the families believe the police investigation or the information theyve been given. [90][91], The 2014 murders, along with other deaths and disappearances of tourists, led to British tabloids labelling Koh Tao as "Death Island". 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. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. [35][84] Despite not initially being permitted to assist with the investigation,[33] British police observers including homicide detectives from the Metropolitan Police and a forensics expert were eventually permitted into Thailand to observe the investigation. The family has contested the police version of events. Investigators had no theory to explain her unexpected stopover on Koh Tao on her way back to the mainland and the capital Bangkok. While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the beach. The relevant standard in this case was ISO 17025. Aug 2014 - Dec 20217 years 5 months. A woman Povse had been interested in said he had called her twice on the phone that night but she had not picked up because she had been asleep. 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.. Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. An inquest had been held in 2014 as his death was being treated as suspicious. German Bernd Grotsch's body was found at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. Thai authorities claimed he was drunk and fell, but his family believes he was murdered.. Mr Zaw and Mr Wai (also known as Win Zaw Htun), both 22 and migrants from Myanmar, also known as Burma, were arrested several weeks later. 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. 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. The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered on tourism, especially scuba diving. The suspects however have withdrawn their confessions to the murders and claimed Thai police forced the admissions through torture. Hannah was a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, UK, and David was a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey. [67][21][68] The conviction was primarily guided by the DNA evidence,[67][69] and the court said it did not consider their confessions in making the judgement. Rockefeller Audio 2022. There were no witnesses. Both were found dead on the bottom of a swimming pool at a seaside resort on Koh Tao in Surat Thani. Four months later, eight bodies were found after a cartel murder spree. 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? [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. 10 July 2015. The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK. Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating drowning. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Koh Tao, Thailand, Serial killers, Unexplained murders WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. The team were only allowed to spend two hours on Koh Tao and did not meet with the suspects or defence. Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Read about our approach to external linking. [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. 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. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. Yoshie Sazawa (Sharlyn) 2004; GRAPHIC crime scene photos showing the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. 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. My YouTube channel is called KOH TAO MURDERS DEATH ISLAND. [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. "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. [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". Police on the resort island of Koh Tao are investigation the drowning death of a wealth business man and his wife. [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". The mum of Ben Harrington Pat was never convinced by the local police's explanation that her 32-year-old son broke his neck when he crashed into an electricity pylon on a night-time moped ride in August 2012. [30] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission said "the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the two Myanmar workers were dubious, leading to impressions the suspects were not aware of their rights and that justice had not been done". Pathologists and legal experts criticised the police for mishandling the evidence, allowing contamination of the crime scene and failing to use experts to collect forensic evidence. [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. [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. While his death was ruled as suicide cops could not explain why his hands are tied behind his back. Get latest News Information, Articles on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming Updated on December 27, 2018 19:20 with exclusive Pictures, photos & videos on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming at Latestly.com - Page 18 Thailand's paradise island murder mystery continues to baffle police, BBC's south-east Asia correspondent reports from Koh Tao. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. It doesn't necessarily mean they are transgender, or that they are doing drag, they just live as women. Read about our approach to external linking. We'll be dignified for David. At least eleven European tourists have died or disappeared there since 2014 and it is now described as Death Island or Murder Island. We are furious that we have not been able to have an approved independent forensic examination.". 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. Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. Hannah was also raped in the attack. We are here for David because of his tragic death. Top Kurunegala Forests: See reviews and photos of Forests in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor. "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". 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. [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. 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. [20] Both bodies were found semi-naked;[21] a pile of clothes was found nearby. By. In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. Elise had been traveling around Asia for two years, and before her death had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat on Koh Phangan. 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.. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. Hannah was raped before she was killed. [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. Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. 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. Photograph: Alamy. [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. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. Bergen Area, Norway. He started another business in neighboring island Koh Phayam before returning in March 2018 to "tie up loose ends". British woman, Christina Annesley, 23, was found in a room at the In Touch Resort on Jan 21, 2015. 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. The investigation of the Witheridge and Miller slayings was widely criticized as the crime scene was not properly secured, and questions were also raised about subsequent DNA testing. [42] In the trial, the prosecution said the phone was found smashed at the home of a friend of Zaw Lin's. Yearly, many professional photographers visit this lodge to capture herds of elephants crossing the dry lake in search of water . There were no signs he was suicidal. On Koh Tao it meant a man living their life as a woman. However, no toxicology report was conducted. But "Turtle Island" has its dark side. The evidence in the form of this Unendorsed Report would have been ruled as inadmissible in US courts and other Western courts. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. Ms Taupin did note however that the document that the prosecution relied upon was an Unendorsed Report in that it had no seal or stamp certifying that it had been produced by an accredited laboratory and in accordance with international standards. The items were still there are 3 am and he called the police. 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. On Tuesday, new details emerged as police investigated the death of a wealthy billionaire industrialist and his wife on Ko Tao last Friday. Khao San Lomprayah - 2100 arrives Koh Tao 0845 > check prices for Bangkok to Koha Tao night bus and ferry and book now. She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. [94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Thaiger Video Monday, March 7, 2022 Less than a minute We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. We are like one big family, weve been through this journey for the past seven years together. Belgian backpacker Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanging from a tree on April 27, 2017. Anthony Cardullo 2013 (USA); 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. Lightboxes. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; 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. Silje Mathisen 2014; 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. 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. Koh Tao murders: Thai court upholds death penalty for two men convicted of killing British backpackers . "They won't come forward because they know something is going to happen to them," he added. [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. "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. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. It followed her reporting on the case of a British girl who was allegedly raped on the same beach. It will take a bit of time to find loopholes to appeal. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. For other inquiries, Contact Us. We won't comment on the trial process. Elise Dallemagne 2017; She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so. 2040 / 2557", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koh_Tao_murders&oldid=1135707447, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 10:00. When Nick Pearson died the police didnt go to his room, they didnt interview anybody. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. How are they ever going to get closure and justice if they dont know what happened? [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. 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He also had given no indications before his death, that he had suicidal thoughts.