But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Get latest News Information, Articles on Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming Updated on December 27, 2018 19:20 with exclusive Pictures, photos & videos on Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming at Latestly.com - Page 18 "[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". They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 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. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. ", The dad added that some of the witnesses they spoke to were "too frightened" to come forward which shows "how the culture is.". Phone records showed that Elise called her mother on Skype on April 17, 2017, before leaving Koh Phangan on a Ferry on April 19. They also found a suicide note at the scene. HARROWING photos of the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop on New Years Day 2014. [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. 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. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Thailand's paradise island murder mystery continues to baffle police, BBC's south-east Asia correspondent reports from Koh Tao. Pol Lt Gen Thanate Pinmuangngam, acting chief of Police Region 8, said In the Dallemagne case, the cause of death was suffocation. Belgian backpacker Elise Dallemagne, 30, was found hanging from a tree on April 27, 2017. But many cases appear very suspicious according to family members and insufficiently investigated. Elise Dallemagne 2017; I shall post a link to your podcast on my Facebook page. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. 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). Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. Exclusive location in the Kitirua Conservancy. DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. The Koh Samui Provincial Court has set 24 December as the date to deliver its judgement on two Myanmar men, Zaw Lin and Zaw Ein Htun (aka Wai Phyo), who are accused of murdering two British tourists on Thailand's Koh Tao Island on September 15 last year. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. Now their families are demanding answers. She was dedicated, ambitious and would have made an amazing difference to the lives of many families through her chosen career as a Speech and Language Therapist. [20] Both bodies were found semi-naked;[21] a pile of clothes was found nearby. There were no witnesses. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. [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". "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. Deaths have been explained away by the authorities as unfortunate accidents or suicides. View our online Press Pack. It is always challenging to bring ACCURATE & RELIABLE information about violent crime on Koh Tao because too many people are frightened to speak out publicly and still others try to SHOOT THE MESSENGERS . 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. "Another one of my sons was there with him, he was absolutely distraught looking at the police just laughing at him. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? 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 government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like, the prime minister said. [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. The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. While police claimed that she hanged herself, mystery surrounded her death, as it was revealed she used a fake name at the hostel she was staying. 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. [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. 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. The family claimed the circumstances surrounding his death and the local police's refusal to co-operate with them have led them to believe the death is "suspicious". They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. 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. Some 200 children have died in one nation after taking toxic cough syrups. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. [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. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. Luke Miller 2016; The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. "Then I started thinking what's going on here?". 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. Martin Totland Frilans. In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. Andy was assisting the defence lawyers. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. [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. David Miller 2014; The island off the Surat Thani province coast has gained notoriety after a string of suspicious and sensationalised deaths over the years. [6] Miller had just completed his undergraduate degree in civil and structural engineering at the University of Leeds and was starting a masters degree. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong had some stern words for China over any role it might play in the war in Ukraine. [85][15][86] Prayut said that British and Burmese government representatives were "limited to observation" and had to "respect our processes". Police on the resort island of Koh Tao are investigation the drowning death of a wealth business man and his wife. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. [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. 24, after their battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern resort island of . 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. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. The past three weeks have been unimaginably difficult and there are no words that can adequately describe the heartache and despair that our family is experiencing. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. [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". Lightboxes. At the time rumours of secret CCTV footage, inconclusive blood samples and a mysterious Swedish man, made Christinas dad suspicious. 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. The families have opened up in Sky's new documentary, Death On The Beach, saying they believe Thai police covered up what really happened to their loved ones. 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. (Washington D.C., February 27, 2023) - The Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh, used to prosecute "terrorism" cases in Saudi Arabia, has charged six former prominent SCC judges and four former judges of the High Court, the country's supreme court, with "high treason" - a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia - in its first secret hearing of the case on February 16, 2023, said . 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. "What we're after are some answers- whether we are going to get them or not I don't know. 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. He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. The more I was getting involved, the more I was reporting, the more upset the Thais would get," she added. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. 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 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. [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. I was told on more than one occasion that I needed to take down this stuff from the paper. [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. [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. 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. Resting in the Gulf of Thailand, a two-hour ferry ride north of Koh Samui, Koh Tao is best known for its incredible marine life, which over the years has attracted a small but buoyant expat. Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it Death Island. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. Cart. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? 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.. [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. 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. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. The families of the young Brits who mysteriously lost their lives in Koh Tao have vowed to find out the truth and say something dodgy is going on., The grieving families have formed a support group following the death of their children on the Thai island, dubbed death island.. The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. [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. Father weeps at Thai murder photos. There were no signs he was suicidal. Four months later, eight bodies were found after a cartel murder spree. [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. 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. These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. 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. 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. We'll be dignified for David. After searching, All rights reserved. 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. 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). Elewana Tortilis camp is situated in the Western part of the Amboseli ecosystem, in the 30.0000-acre Kitirua Conservancy, bordering the Amboseli National Park in Kenya. For other inquiries, Contact Us. I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). Are there serial killers operating on the island, with their crimes apparently insufficiently investigated so that the tourist industry remains protected? When Nick Pearson died the police didnt go to his room, they didnt interview anybody. That is awful. She was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics she was taking for a chest infection with alcohol. 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. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. Photograph: Alamy. 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. 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. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. [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. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. Shared On: 28th Dec, 2022. [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". Hannah was raped before she was killed. Enterprise. These included backpackers Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, who were found murdered on the . 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. [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". Silje Mathisen 2014; "They won't come forward because they know something is going to happen to them," he added. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. A 28-year-old British guy. The two are charged with the murder of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on . 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". "[56] Attempts to appeal the sentence to the High Court in 2017 were unsuccessful. 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. 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? We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. 0 0. [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. 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. The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. Thailands prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, questioned the attire and behavior of foreign female tourists shortly after the killing of two British backpackers, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the island in 2014. Yearly, many professional photographers visit this lodge to capture herds of elephants crossing the dry lake in search of water . The Samui Times believes that it is in the best interests of any visitor to the island to be aware of the numerous tourist deaths and the fact that many families of those who died on the island are not satisfied with police investigations.. Frenchman, Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanging from the beam of a rented house on January 1, 2015. She added: "They didn't do any investigation at all. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. The defendants have repeatedly stated their innocence over the murders, with the defence alleging they were framed. Nick Pearson 2014; [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. 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.. The court has now been told that vital DNA evidence cannot be retested. The country's prime minister, who had been phoning the national police chief daily for updates on the investigation, said "this should not have happened at all, as it will affect Thailand in the eyes of the international community". And the same goes for Luke Millers mum Sara Cotton. Top Kurunegala Forests: See reviews and photos of Forests in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor. [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." [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes .
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