Agent pastime hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Administratively it is a subdistrict (tambon) of Ko Pha-ngan District (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province. Thailand: Koh Tao Murder Trial Exposed. Ugly Truth of 'Land of Smiles 24, after their battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern resort island of . 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[94] She suggested using identification wristbands for tourists to improve safety, but the idea was quickly scrapped. "They said they were going to cremate him the next day - I had to call the Home Office to stop the cremation. 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. The bungalow is 50ft above the ocean, theres nothing but massive granite boulders between his bungalow and the ocean so how did he managed to tumble all the way down there? Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. And the same goes for Luke Millers mum Sara Cotton. Enterprise. After searching, All rights reserved. I shall post a link to your podcast on my Facebook page. Hannah was a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, UK, and David was a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey. Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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. 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. Controversy of Koh Tao murders - coconuts.co Here are the names of some of the other outsiders who died on Koh Tao: Ian Jacobs 2000; Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. 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. Hannah Witheridge 2014; It was said the pair went swimming on the same beach earlier that night, and when they got out of the water they found their clothes had disappeared. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. "[78] Another commentary in the paper stated that the "overwhelming public skepticism stems from the police's longstanding notoriety for arresting poor and powerless scapegoats to save rich criminals who can afford to buy their innocence". Koh Tao murders: Thai court upholds death penalty for two men convicted of killing British backpackers . Creepy There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. 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. There is an alternative bus and ferry service run by Songserm, which is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. Koh Tao Cabana - UPDATED Prices, Reviews & Photos (Thailand) - Villa Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. In August 2020, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo had their death sentences commuted to life in prison to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and to show his "clemency". Thai beach murders: Death sentence upheld by Supreme Court But many cases appear very suspicious according to family members and insufficiently investigated. They had no prior criminal records. [4], The victims of the murders were Hannah Witheridge, a 23-year-old from Hemsby, England, and David Miller, a 24-year-old from Jersey, a Crown Dependency. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? 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. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. Its just really shoddy investigation work- I personally think theres something going on on that island. Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. Samyak Choudhary; and A police officer told the trial of the severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been raped. Andy was assisting the defence lawyers. On Thursday the 29 th of August 2019, the Supreme Court of Thailand handed down its decision to uphold the death penalties for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, the Burmese migrant workers found guilty of the rape and murder of British holidaymaker Hannah Witheridge and the murder of fellow countryman David Miller in September 2014 on Koh Tao in Thailand. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so. I was told on more than one occasion that I needed to take down this stuff from the paper. Our kids all died on Koh Tao 'death island' - cops claim they were accidents but we think they were MURDERED Aliki Kraterou Published: 13:58, 19 Mar 2022 Updated: 15:34, 19 Mar 2022 The. He was found hiding on the boat later on 2 October. Koh tao murders Stock Photos and Images (50) See koh tao murders stock video clips RM 2D0FFR6 - A police searches for clues near the spot where bodies of two killed British tourists were found, on the island of Koh Tao September 19, 2014. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. It covers an area of about 21 km2. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. [11], An autopsy revealed that both victims were hit by a hard object resulting in head and face wounds. An unexplained fire that evening burned down three bamboo huts, including the one Elise had been staying in. His family accused the Thai police of a cover-up. Chrissie's heartbroken dad Boyne Annesley started investigating more deaths in Koh Tao. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. However, the event did not materially affect tourism to the island over the following years. 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. The economy of the island is almost exclusively centered on tourism, especially scuba diving. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. It leaves Khao San Songserm at either 1800 or 1900. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . Posts on social media said Dallemagne had booked a ticket to Chumphon province, on the mainland, and that her luggage arrived after her death, raising questions of her intentions to take her own life. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. 7 Reasons to stay at Elewana Tortilis Camp Amboseli [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. 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). [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. There were no witnesses. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. 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. The two men were convicted and sentenced in 2015 and the verdict was upheld by an appeals court in 2017 and the Supreme Court in August 2019. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. Today, we have gotten rid of them.. 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. But "Turtle Island" has its dark side. BBC correspondent Jonah Fisher said Miss Witheridge's father and brother sat with their heads bowed as the evidence was presented in court but continued listening. The two are charged with the murder of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on . "They won't come forward because they know something is going to happen to them," he added. Family still seeking justice feature in new documentary on death of Allegations about police brutality rocked the countrys economy that almost solely relies on tourism. Ben Harrington 2012; [90][91], The 2014 murders, along with other deaths and disappearances of tourists, led to British tabloids labelling Koh Tao as "Death Island". They said Wai Phyo found the mobile phone dropped on the beach, and so he kept it. The island off the Surat Thani province coast has gained notoriety after a string of suspicious and sensationalised deaths over the years. That is awful. 92 Visitor. [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. [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. "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. Hotels near The Heart of Chechnya Hotels near State Gallery named after A. 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. He had entered the country on September 26, 2018, before traveling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. [1] After initially failing to find a match to one of the migrant workers, the police focused their attention on Western tourists related to the victims. At least eleven European tourists have died or disappeared there since 2014 and it is now described as Death Island or Murder Island. What really happened there? [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. 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. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Our kids all died on Koh Tao 'death island' - cops claim they were Police: Burmese men confess to killing British tourists | CNN See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. At the time rumours of secret CCTV footage, inconclusive blood samples and a mysterious Swedish man, made Christinas dad suspicious. These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. Shared On: 28th Dec, 2022. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. 2145/2559, "Two British tourists found dead on Thai island of Koh Tao", "Suspects in Thai Tourist Murders Face Dubious Trial", "Manhunt underway after brutal murder of 2 British tourists on Koh Tao", "Thailand's paradise island murder mystery", "What the Murder of Two British Tourists Tells Us About Thailand's Dark Side", "Thailand's Supreme Court upholds death penalty for men convicted of murdering British backpackers", "Koh Tao DNA evidence & international standards", "Thai court upholds death penalty for murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller", "Thailand backpacker murders: Burmese workers sentenced to death", "Thailand beach murders: A flawed and muddled investigation", "Koh Tao murders: DNA matches, confessions obtained, crime re-enacted", "Hearings Open Into Killings of Two British Tourists on Thai Island (Published 2014)", "Thai king commutes death sentence for Myanmar men in British tourist murder case", "Burmese men confess to killing British tourists on Koh Tao, Thai police say", "The Investigation Into Thailand's Backpacker Slayings Is Officially a Farce", "Migrants accused of murder of British couple in Thailand recant confessions", "Thai Dictator Faces Ire Over Murder Probe", "Koh Tao murder suspects plead not guilty", "Burmese pair to be executed for murder of British tourists on Koh Tao, Thailand", "2 Sentenced to Death in Killing of British Tourists in Thailand (Published 2015)", "Thailand murders: Two men found guilty and face death for UK killings", "Thai beach murders: Convicted men lose death sentence appeal", "Thai beach murders: Death sentence upheld by Supreme Court", "Backpacker's family 'grateful' for Thai king's clemency", "Koh Tao pair claim they were tortured before confessing", "Thai beach murders: DNA investigation into death of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller 'incompetent at best', "Koh Tao murders: suspects in killing of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge say they were framed", "Koh Tao's dark side: dangers of island where Britons were murdered", "Thai Paradise Gains Reputation as 'Death Island', "Foreign Office calls in Thai diplomat over murder inquiry concerns", "Thailand murder suspects can't have British police report: UK judge", "Thai officials on alert as Myanmar protests spread", "Prayut lashes out at Myanmar Koh Tao protestors", "Thailand's Migrant Worker Woes Exposed in Koh Tao Murder Case", "Govt vows "high-tech" defence against hackers", "Island killings prompt stiffer worker rules", "Contesting narratives: the Koh Tao tourists murders", "Unofficial translation of Koh Samui Provincial Court No. Forensic report into British murders in Thailand leaked to local media It would be impossible, some of the boulders are so big they would have stopped him but he didnt have a single broken bone. Bernd Grotsch 2017; 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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. The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. 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. Koh Tao murders 1 language Sairee Beach The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. [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. About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. It has over 100 hotels and resorts and was deemed the busiest diving centre in Southeast Asia in 2014. Nick's father, Graham, had been the last person to see him when he walked with his son back to where the family was staying. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! Owner of Martin Totland Freelance LLC, specializing in event photography, freelance journalism, and Norwegian . Koh Tao--a small island in the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by pristine beaches, swathed in sunshine, and a mecca for tourists, divers and backpackers. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like, the prime minister said. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Amnesty International has demanded the Thai authorities investigate the torture allegations after one suspect reportedly said he was beaten and threatened with electrocution. She added: "They didn't do any investigation at all. He was travelling Southeast Asia with a friend after completing a six-week work placement in Australia with a mining company,[6][8][9] and arrived in Thailand in August. "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". My Facebook page is called KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND. 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. There were no signs of a struggle or rape or other human DNA. Date: July 24, 2022. HARROWING photos of the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. Thailand backpacker murders: Victim's father weeps at photos 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. Shelley Bot 2017; Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. Bergen Area, Norway. 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. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. [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. A coroner ruled in 2017 said that there is "no evidence" to suggest Luke was murdered. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . How are they ever going to get closure and justice if they dont know what happened? From: kohtao. [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. Now their families are demanding answers. 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? "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. The real story of the 2014 Koh Tao Murders : r/myfavoritemurder - Reddit [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. The family has contested the police version of events. Martin Totland - Wedding Photographer - Ivory Grove | LinkedIn 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. "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.