Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. 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". 92 Visitor. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. Photographs of the bodies have been circulating on the internet. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . The families dont believe a word of the Thai police investigation. [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". The more I was getting involved, the more I was reporting, the more upset the Thais would get," she added. 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. Khao San Lomprayah - 2100 arrives Koh Tao 0845 > check prices for Bangkok to Koha Tao night bus and ferry and book now. [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. June 6, 2021. Lightboxes. 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. 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. Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming It leaves Khao San Songserm at either 1800 or 1900. But, he said that most of these would have been present prior to his death, although he could not completely rule out the possibility that Nick had been attacked. Date: July 24, 2022. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! 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. [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]. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. How are they ever going to get closure and justice if they dont know what happened? Buchanan who left Thailand in 2016 after receiving death threats for her reporting, reached out to the victims' families and formed a support group. Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. 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. A. Kadyrov Hotels near Museum of the Chechen Republic Hotels near The Flower Park Hotels near Visit Chechnya Hotels near Grozny City Observation Deck Hotels near Church of Archangel Michael Hotels near Makhmud Esambayev Avenue Hotels near Museum of Akhmat Khadzhy Kadyrov Hotels near Monument to the Fighters of the . [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. Outcry from the international community over the death penalties upheld [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. Thailand backpackers murder trial: Hannah Witheridge's father weeps in "So for an hour the families of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller looked and listened as crime scene pictures were shown in court.". Thai beach murders: Death sentence upheld by Supreme Court Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop on New Years Day 2014. A UK autopsy later revealedBen died of a transected aorta a rupture of the bodys largest artery rather than a broken neck. I just listened to your full podcast about Koh Tao with considerable interest. Find the perfect koh tao murder stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Koh Tao Murders: Is Koh Tao Safe in 2023? - Traveltomtom.net Its just really shoddy investigation work- I personally think theres something going on on that island. THE BEST Grozny Game & Entertainment Centers (with Photos) The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. joanromans.com Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa Samui Times defended its reporting in an online post. [82][83] The UK government expressed concerns with the investigation, and summoned a Thai diplomat in London to discuss them. THAILAND VS INDONESIA LIVE STREAMING - latestly.com It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. Administratively it is a subdistrict (tambon) of Ko Pha-ngan District (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province. 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. [38] Both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. Hannah was raped before she was killed. It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. "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 discovery of the bodies last September sparked a major police investigation and intense local and international pressure to find those responsible. One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; [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. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. Koh Tao Murders, Suspicious Deaths, Fatal Accidents Tribute to 20 [10], Witheridge and Miller travelled and arrived on the island separately on 25 August. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. We beg that Hannah and David are afforded privacy and dignity through the removal of these pointless and insensitive reminders. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. 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. Cart. Controversy of Koh Tao murders - coconuts.co The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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.. Hiroshi 2002; [15] Public prosecutors initially rejected the report, asking for "certain flaws" to be fixed, more information to be supplied, and for the report to be made "more succinct". [20] Both bodies were found semi-naked;[21] a pile of clothes was found nearby. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller koh tao, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo koh tao, dimitri povse koh tao, christina annesley koh tao, Valentina Novozhyonova koh tao, luke miller koh tao, Elise Dallemagne koh tao, Bernd grotsch koh tao, Alexandr Bucspun koh tao, The frightening case of the Trailside Killer David Carpenter, The Yosemite National Park Sightseer Murders and the two faces of evil, The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. [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." Valentina Novozhenova 2017; But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. 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. British woman, Christina Annesley, 23, was found in a room at the In Touch Resort on Jan 21, 2015. 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. The items were still there are 3 am and he called the police. 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. About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. Shocked cries in Ko Tao billionaire's death - Thai Examiner This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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 Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? [48], The guilty verdict resulted in widespread protests in Myanmar. [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. [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. These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. Nick's mother Tracy Pearson, told Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court in the U.K., she had "a gut feeling there was foul play". [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". From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. [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. The suspects however have withdrawn their confessions to the murders and claimed Thai police forced the admissions through torture. A 28-year-old British guy. That is awful. [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. [90][91], The 2014 murders, along with other deaths and disappearances of tourists, led to British tabloids labelling Koh Tao as "Death Island". How to go BANGKOK to KOH TAO? Tickets | 2023 - Northern Vietnam There is an alternative bus and ferry service run by Songserm, which is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. Only if they are not beautiful." Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. "What we're after are some answers- whether we are going to get them or not I don't know. "We'll go with the flow as much as we can. GRAPHIC crime scene photos showing the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. Many raised concerns that contamination cast doubt upon the forensic evidence: officials, journalists and tourists were seen walking around the crime scene, and Thai police did not use trained or independent specialists to collect forensic evidence. The last known video footage of the Russian woman showed her walking to Chaloke Hin Kao bay and never coming back. [42] In the trial, the prosecution said the phone was found smashed at the home of a friend of Zaw Lin's. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The family has contested the police version of events. He had entered the country on September 26, 2018, before traveling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club. Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. Wealth Businessman and Wife Found Dead in Koh Tao Resort Pool The Backpacker Murders Of Koh Tao. What Really Happened There? DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller koh tao, The horrific rape and murder of Sophie Louise Hook whilst camping in her Uncle's garden, The miracle rescue of Alan Lee Phillips at Colorados Guanella Pass - the man who turned out to be a serial killer, The chilling story of Thomas Lee Dillon - the Ohio Outdoorsmen killer, The miraculous escape of the Brazilian and German backpackers at Salt Creek in South Australia, Robert Hansen Butcher Baker - the Alaska Serial killer who hunted his victims in the wilderness, The shocking unsolved Keddie Cabin murders, The disturbing death of Fiona Torbet in the Scottish highlands, The unsolved Williams and Winans camping murders in Shenandoah National Park, The real Wolf Creek - The Backpacker Murders in the Australian Outback, The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders, The mysterious death of Carol Laughlin in Yosemite National Park, The disturbing disappearance of the Beaumont children on Glenelg Beach, The Kamloops Triangle - The British Columbia murders and disappearances, The Delphi hiking murders - Abigail Williams and Liberty German, The Peter Falconio disappearance in the Australian Outback, The unsolved murder of Scott Lilly on the Appalachian trail, The disturbing case of James Jordan - The Appalachian Trail Murderer. 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. We are furious that we have not been able to have an approved independent forensic examination.". Date set for judgement on Koh Tao murder suspect case 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. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? ", The dad added that some of the witnesses they spoke to were "too frightened" to come forward which shows "how the culture is.". All times AEDT (GMT +11). The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: joanromans.com, +49803921568627, +34972573012, +34643318517 Focs i Estufes Romans - Joan Romans Eight days later locals living near Tanote Bay found Elise's body after becoming suspicious of a monitor lizard going back and forth into the jungle. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements. [51][56][57] They argued that the defendants, since they were vulnerable as illegal migrant workers, were scapegoated by the police for the crime. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. [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. [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. They told me 'you need to stop reporting on it if you want to stay here, they are getting fed up with you now, No one put a gun to my head but I was told by multiple sources that if I didnt stop reporting on it thered be trouble- it wasnt safe for me anymore.". Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. 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 coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. The hearing was told that a post-mortem examination in Thailand showed that Mr Miller had a number of small bruises on his face and legs and gave a cause of death of head injuries and drowning. At the time rumours of secret CCTV footage, inconclusive blood samples and a mysterious Swedish man, made Christinas dad suspicious. 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 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". 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. "As long as I can breathe I will keep trying to find answers.". 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. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial.