Read More: Dilleen Hempel Murder: Who Killed Her? RIP, Christian May (@christianrmay) September 15, 2014. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. But in Thailand, the police perform the entire process. In a statement, Ian and Sue Miller, who have campaigned against the death penalty, said: "We are grateful to His Majesty the King of Thailand for showing his clemency to the murderers of our son David. Zaw Lin was not convicted of this charge because he held a work permit for the two years preceding the murders. Koh Tao is very safe, says Mayor Chaiyan. The island is known as a haven for scuba divers. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. [26][27] However, her clothes were not tested for DNA. Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. 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. [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. Complaining about wrongdoing may invite official questions and demands for passports and documentation. [29][30] The police initially speculated about who the culprit might be, alleging various individuals of perpetrating the crime without clear evidence. Expats dont want to lose their time in paradise, Earley says, as its cheap, its nice living, and its very easy to ignore what happens.. grassroots elite basketball ; why does ted lasso have a southern accent . ; The investigators raided Mau Maus home on October 2 and arrested one of the men named Zaw Lin. The families that run the island and police that guard it deny any involvement with narcotics. On July 10, the bench again ordered the DNA to be retested, only for the police to reveal that certain key samples specifically those retrieved from the victims bodies had been used up. Defence lawyers claimed. One belonged to David, and one belonged to an unknown Asian male. Sean McAnna, 25, has fled the island of Koh Tao after claiming he knows who was responsible for the murders of Hannah Witheridge and his friend, David Miller. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. She was buried the following month near her family home following a service billed as a celebration of her life, with mourners encouraged to wear bright colours. All rights reserved. Theres no work permit that allows you to work in 15 different locations [under the sea], he says. These samples purportedly match those retrieved from Witheridges corpse. When the bodies of British tourists 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge and 24-year-old David Miller were found brutally murdered on the remote Thai island of Koh Tao, the police immediately concluded that the killer had to be a foreigner, as a Thai person couldn't be capable of such brutality. Jej rodina ji popsala jako ivouc" a nkoho, kdo rd . Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. Human-rights groups expressed serious concerns. The next in size is Koh Phangan, home of the infamous Full Moon parties, with a reputation for drugs and debauchery. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? The police found a garden hoe and a wooden club nearby, which were quickly determined as the principal murder weapons. So, if youre interested in finding out more about the case, including the perpetrators identities, heres what we know. People come to Thailand to get away from it all. The episode tries to deconstruct the complex case for the listeners as it narrates the incidents chronologically and questions several alleged incompetencies in the murder probe. The family said it had brought to a close a "lengthy and disturbing period" where activists on social media had attempted to influence justice in Thailand and public opinion elsewhere. The family said it had brought to a close a "lengthy and disturbing period" where activists on social media had attempted to influence justice in Thailand and public opinion elsewhere. She added, She always got along well on placement. Both were found dead early on the morning of September 15. However, a lawyer for Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo told the BBC that the pair had not admitted their guilt when their death sentences were commuted. As the local government was concerned about how the incident would affect the tourism prospects, the officials allegedly forced the detectives intoexpediting the investigation into the murders. There were 362 U.K. citizens who met their end in Thailand in 2014, more so even than in France, which attracts almost 20 times as many British visitors. He was ultimately arrested a few hours later while hiding on the vessel. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. Drugs play a key role. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. The brutality of the incident shook the islands and its tourists and residents as the investigators began their probe under immense media and political pressure. After the court ordered the DNA to be tested again on July 10, the head of Thailands Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA sample on the hoe did not match the defendants. [3] The murders were the first cases of homicide on the island in over eight years. According to reports, David and Hannah arrived separately on the island with their friends on August 25, 2014. The second man, Wai Phyo,[a] was believed to have left the island by boat the previous night. [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." And on Koh Tao there are around 5,000 Burmese conspicuous by the golden streaks of thanaka paste, a traditional sunscreen and beauty product, garnishing their cheeks who build hotels, sweep rooms and serve drinks to the coppery throngs of tourists. They partied together, with the couple last seen together at a local bar called AC Bar with friends on September 14. Hannah was also raped. Gruesome photos of the bloodied corpses circulated online, either leaked by officials or even taken by passersby. Her family parents Tony and Sue, brother Paul and sisters Tania and Laura described Witheridge as a beautiful person, inside and out, saying she would have gone on to make a significant difference to the lives of many people. [11], An autopsy revealed that both victims were hit by a hard object, resulting in head and face wounds. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. As the investigation continues and new evidence emerges, it seems that the . Junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha enraged many by hinting that the blame, at some level, lay with the attractive victims. Analytical Services; Analytical Method Development and Validation When the authorities were unable to pin the crime on migrant workers, they turned their attention toward Western tourists related to the victims. Lin and Phyo (also known asWin Zaw Htun)were sentenced to death for the murder of Mr Miller and the murder and rape of Ms Witheridge. The sweet reek of marijuana is commonplace even in prominent beachfront bars, while cocaine and crystal meth, known locally as yaba or crazy drug, are not hard to find, say locals. At one establishment by Chalok Baan Chao, joints are sold for 200 baht ($6) while a magic mushroom milkshake costs 700 baht ($20). Will [tourists] survive in Thailand if they dress in bikinis? he asked Sept. 17. [52] The suspects were defended pro bono by two lawyers from the Lawyers Council of Thailand. Mau Mau claimed he left on his motorcycle and returned home later to find his co-riders asleep. . According to the BBC, staff from the British embassy left for Koh Tao soon after the news broke of the murders. Call Us Today! The Daily Telegraph reports that the two were seen leaving a bar at around 1 a.m. Sky News reports that Witheridge had been traveling with three friends. According to Kingsley Abbott, Southeast Asia legal expert for the International Commission of Jurists, 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.. The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. They were at the bar with around 50 people mostly foreign tourists before they left together after 1:00 am. 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. A process of registering irregular Burmese migrant workers has been introduced to tackle the semiofficial bribes, though many say abuses continue unabated. The murders of Witheridge and Miller sent shock waves through Thailand. According to reports, the bodies were partially clothed, and the officers also located three cigarette butts and a used condom nearby. The largest and most developed is Koh Samui, which also boasts the archipelagos only international airport. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have been named as the two tourists who chopped up by a hoe in Thailand. [1][15][21], During an hours-long interrogation, during which the police used Burmese food vendors as interpreters[35] because the pair could not speak Thai,[41] the suspects confessed to the murders. [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. Their senseless deaths sparked international outrage and raised questions about justice on Koh Tao. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo are two of an estimated 2 million irregular Burmese migrants, along with smaller numbers from neighboring Cambodia and Laos, currently working low-paid jobs in comparatively thriving Thailand. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. Over the coming weeks we hope to gain a better understanding as to how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a horrible way, said Millers family in a statement at the opening of the trial. Of the 25 million foreign visitors who touch down in Thailand each year, half a million grace Koh Tao, the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Thai Gulf. Case 220: Hannah Witheridge & David Miller. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. Even though recent quasi-democratic reforms have seen an influx of tourist dollars and the rolling back of sanctions, that means little for the nations rural poor. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller's bodies were found on a beach in Koh Tao in September 2014. You have reached your limit of free articles. [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. Lin and Phyo (also known asWin Zaw Htun)were sentenced to death for the murder of Mr Miller and the murder and rape of Ms Witheridge. [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. The bodies of David Miller, 24, from Jersey and Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. [77], An opinion piece in Bangkok Post wrote that "practically no one believes [Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo] really brutally murdered English tourists", adding "in Thai media of all kinds, the consensus is that Win and Zaw Lin are scapegoats. The defense lawyers also claimed Wai had found Davids phone on the beach and was traveling by boat to Surat Thani for his new job on the day he was arrested. They also pointed out several mistakes the incompetent investigators committed during the probe and alleged the officers restored to torture to make the defendants admit to the crime. British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were killed in September 2014, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were convicted of the murders in a Thai court and originally sentenced to death, The bodies of Mr Miller and Miss Witheridge were found on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. (Both families declined to comment when contacted by TIME.). They had only been in the country for days before they were murdered. Photograph: PA The police were accused of buckling under pressure to solve a crime that attracted worldwide attention. At present, the case rests on DNA evidence linking cigarette butts found around 20 m from the bodies next to a crooked log where Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo admit they were playing guitar and drinking beer on the evening in question. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, This Septic Isle: Backpackers, Bloodshed and the Secretive World of Koh Tao. She was a real natural with them.. Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015, after being found guilty of killing David Miller, 24, of Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, of Norfolk. A year after Millers death his parents unveiled a memorial for him, a bench on the north coast of his home island, inscribed, Never let a person sit alone. Laura Daniels, 30, died in hospital on Monday just five years and one day. Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015, after being found guilty of killing David Miller, 24, of Jersey, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, of Norfolk. Hannah, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on September 15. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. Only if they are not beautiful." Photograph: PA. Rights groups have said the pair were used as scapegoats by the . [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. The area plays host to a weekly beach party on Sunday nights. She was just one of those beautiful, bubbly people, amazing inside and out. The family of a British backpacker killed in Thailand have welcomed a decision to commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, commute his murderers' death sentences to life in prison, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve. "But in the end the truth has been revealed," the couple added. Read about our approach to external linking. [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. I had no idea, says Jordi Cramer, 21, a waitress from Edmonton, Canada, when TIME speaks to her strolling past the granite-hemmed crime scene. [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. Sean McAnna (25), from Shotts near Glasgow, was a friend of David Miller, the tourist whose body was found last week on Koh Tao island along with that of Hannah Witheridge. Burmese people are treated as second-class citizens, says Saksith. David Miller is from the island of Jersey in the English channel between the United Kingdom and France. Hannah Witheridge, 23,front left, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, middle right, from Jersey, were brutally killed on the island of Koh Tao last September Like the Millers, the Witheridge family initially offered no comment on worries about a miscarriage of justice after the arrested men said they had been tortured to extract confessions. The family travelled to see parts of the subsequent trial of the two young Burmese migrant workers accused of the murders, partly paid for by a crowdfunding appeal set up to cover the costs of travel and translation at the hearings. Mr and Mrs Miller, from St Helier, said: "Every moment we miss our son. DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. Read about our approach to external linking. However, the defense counsel argued all the evidence against the defendants was circumstantial, and the police had no known eyewitness to the murders. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. The names of the tourists were first announced in a Sky News tweet. David Miller, 24, from Jersey, was found murdered alongside Hannah . Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were killed in 2014 By Stephanie Cockroft 15 August 2020 A pair of migrant workers convicted of murdering two young British tourists on a Thai holiday. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. Thailand backpacker murders: bar workers found guilty of killing British tourists, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. In September 2014, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller only met by chance while backpacking on the island, but when their bodies were found together on Sairee Beach, they would become linked forever by a tragic mystery. Naturally, a pall of silence engulfs this clannish, cliquey atoll, owing in no small part to the legal standing of its foreign contingent. He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. News reports stated officers rounded up200 alleged suspects, most migrant workers, and used mass DNA testing. mi.) David Miller and Hannah Witheridge only met each other by chance, when they and their friends stayed in adjoining rooms of the Ocean View Bungalows, a small backpacker complex overlooking the white sand sweep of Sairee beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao. Hannah Witheridge & David Miller. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. To be able to work on Koh Tao, illegal Burmese migrants paid a 500-baht ($15) bribe each month, plus another 500 baht if they want to use a motorbike without a Thai driving license. 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. Officials deny claims of torture and reports that men accused of killing Hannah Witheridge and David Miller withdrew confessions Jamie Doward Sat 11 Oct 2014 07.15 EDT Last modified on Sat 2 Dec . On 15 September, the bodies of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found on Sairee Beach on the island of Koh Tao, between 4 and 5 am, a few hours after their deaths. The Koh Tao murders involved the death of two British tourists in Thailand in 2014. [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". Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating drowning. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line.
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