koh tao murders photos

[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. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. I was told on more than one occasion that I needed to take down this stuff from the paper. They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like, the prime minister said. What really happened there? The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. 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. Koh Tao murders 1 language Sairee Beach The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. [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. British woman, Christina Annesley, 23, was found in a room at the In Touch Resort on Jan 21, 2015. The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. [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. Police on the resort island of Koh Tao are investigation the drowning death of a wealth business man and his wife. The discovery of the bodies last September sparked a major police investigation and intense local and international pressure to find those responsible. 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. 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. They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. There were no witnesses. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30320196. The murders on Koh Tao, a laid-back haven for divers, sullied Thailand's image in the tourism industry, which accounts for about 10 per cent of the country's economy. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". Father weeps at Thai murder photos. He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs, and face. [20] Both bodies were found semi-naked;[21] a pile of clothes was found nearby. The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK. 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. They followed the animal and discovered that it had been feeding on Elise's remains, which were found among rocks behind the Tanote Family Bay Resort. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope But "Turtle Island" has its dark side. Aug 2014 - Dec 20217 years 5 months. "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. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. HARROWING photos of the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. Bergen Area, Norway. Police major general, Surachate Hakparn, said in an interview that the police have cracked down on crime syndicates on Koh Tao since the backpackers double killing. 2040 / 2557, Regional Court of Appeal VIII No. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . 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. [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". "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. Frenchman, Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanging from the beam of a rented house on January 1, 2015. [1] Police revealed that the samples from Witheridge's body were used up,[62][27] but were able to provide DNA samples from the murder weapon. 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. Ten days after he went missing from Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, the body of Swiss tourist Hans Peter Suter, 44, was washed ashore at Talay Ngam beach in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. It covers an area of about 21 km2. I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. Anthony Cardullo 2013 (USA); They had no prior criminal records. 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. GRAPHIC crime scene photos showing the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. Date: July 24, 2022. The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. 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. [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. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, "This Septic Isle: Backpackers, Bloodshed and the Secretive World of Koh Tao", "Links revealed between police and migrants on Koh Tao", "Police: Still no suspect in killings of Britons on idyllic Thai island", "Thai king commutes death sentence of UK pair's killers", "Thailand: Hannah Witheridge 'raped by two men before being killed', "Thailand backpacker murders: David Miller and Hannah Witheridge - two lives cut short", "Thailand murders: Victims' families talk of senseless killings", "Hannah Witheridge's family pay tribute to "beautiful, intelligent, loving young woman", "British backpackers murdered in Thailand named as Hannah Witheridge and David Miller", "Thailand murders: Amnesty International call for police torture probe", Koh Samui Provincial Court No. David Miller 2014; [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. 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. 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. 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. One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. 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 . [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]. German Bernd Grotsch's body was found at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. [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. I just listened to your full podcast about Koh Tao with considerable interest. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. Their explanations as to why these kids have died just dont add up- you dont have to be a pathologist or a doctor to know what weve been told is nonsensical.. [33][34] Over 200 individuals on the island, many of them migrant workers, were tested in mass DNA testing. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. In December 2015, the pair were convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. [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. Top Kurunegala Forests: See reviews and photos of Forests in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor. 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. Photograph: Alamy. Hotels near The Heart of Chechnya Hotels near State Gallery named after A. It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. [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. On Tuesday, new details emerged as police investigated the death of a wealthy billionaire industrialist and his wife on Ko Tao last Friday. 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. [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. Thailand is one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations with around 35 million visitors each year and promotes itself as the Land of Smiles. The government is sensitive to criticism that could undermine the countrys reputation. Belgian backpacker Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanging from a tree on April 27, 2017. They suggested that she mixed antibiotics with alcohol- as much as that would make the antibiotics less efficient or make you feel bad, its not going to kill you. The father-of-ones family in Ingolstadt, Germany, said at the time they did not believe the authorities' claims that hedied of heart failure or had been bitten by a snake.. Shared On: 28th Dec, 2022. Hannah was raped before she was killed. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV A Scottish man is being kept in protective custody in Thailand after a photo he took could identify the murderer. [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. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". Create an account. There is an alternative bus and ferry service run by Songserm, which is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. [31][65] Jane Taupin, an Australian forensic scientist brought in by the defence, claimed that the timeline of DNA extraction was dubious; a rapid analysis of DNA samples had happened in less than 12 hours,[34] which she said was unusual because "extracting DNA from mixed samples was difficult and time-consuming". 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. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. The relevant standard in this case was ISO 17025. 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.. World put on alert as deadly virus spreads, Hundreds dead in horror cough syrup tragedy. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. 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. 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. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. June 6, 2021. 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. 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". Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. 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 . [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. Martin Totland Frilans. [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. The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. [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. Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. 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. [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. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . Our family have been further traumatised by reports that there are numerous unnecessary and senseless photographs circulating across the internet. My YouTube channel is called KOH TAO MURDERS DEATH ISLAND. 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. [39] Following an interrogation, during which police say Zaw Lin admitted he had entered the country illegally, Zaw Lin was arrested and his clothes and motorcycle were seized as evidence. The suspects however have withdrawn their confessions to the murders and claimed Thai police forced the admissions through torture. As we continue with our plans for our beautiful Hannahs party, our thoughts are with David Millers family who are suffering the same indescribable agony. Find the perfect koh tao murder stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. 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. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. 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.. She added: "They didn't do any investigation at all. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. 10 July 2015. Deaths have been explained away by the authorities as unfortunate accidents or suicides. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. 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. The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. [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. 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. Although both of his hands were tied behind the back, the police said he could have done this himself as the rope was tied to one hand and a loop was made so the other hand could be inserted. [47][75][12] Human Rights Watch said the case was "profoundly disturbing" and called for the verdict to be reviewed in a "transparent and fair appeal process". He told the Sun Online: "We want justice. When Nick Pearson died the police didnt go to his room, they didnt interview anybody. Koh Tao ''Turtle Island'' or Ko Tao is an island in Thailand and is part of the Chumphon Archipelago on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. 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 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. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop on New Years Day 2014. Photographs of the bodies have been circulating on the internet. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? 24, after their battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern resort island of . The owner of a 5 star hotel in Phuket and his wife were found dead at the bottom of their hotel swimming pool on the island of Koh Tao on Friday afternoon. Cart. The evidence in the form of this Unendorsed Report would have been ruled as inadmissible in US courts and other Western courts. GermanBernd Grotsch, 47, was found deadat his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. But many cases appear very suspicious according to family members and insufficiently investigated. There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. [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. 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). "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 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. [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. Thai authorities claimed he was drunk and fell, but his family believes he was murdered.. 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. 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. 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. CONFESSION WITHDRAWN: Burmese suspect claims he was beaten, tortured by police. 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. "[56] Attempts to appeal the sentence to the High Court in 2017 were unsuccessful. 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. We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah. Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. We'll be dignified for David. Murder of two backpackers on the island of Koh Tao SAIREE BEACH, KOH TAO, THAILAND - SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 British tourists Hannah Witheridge (23 years old) and David Miller (24 years old) enjoyed their holiday in Thailand on the famous island of Koh Tao. "As long as I can breathe I will keep trying to find answers.". None of the families believe that the way the police said they died is actually how they died and they are all very unhappy with the investigation. [72] The Supreme Court of Thailand upheld the sentence in August 2019, stating that the police handled the case correctly and the forensic evidence was "clear, credible, and detailed". Shelley Bot 2017; Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. "We'll go with the flow as much as we can. A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. [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".

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