The area plays host to a weekly beach party on Sunday nights. "We hope that these two murderers will now spend a very, very long time in jail where they cannot harm other families and will have time to reflect on the consequences of their acts.". However, the event did not materially affect tourism to the island over the following years. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. Koh Tao's dark side: dangers of island where Britons were murdered What the Murder of Two Young British Tourists Tells Us About Thailand [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. Theories abound on Koh Tao about who killed Miller and Witheridge. Theres no work permit that allows you to work in 15 different locations [under the sea], he says. In December 2015, the pair were convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. 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. Indian officials wife distraught as his killer is freed. "Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo finally admitted to the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge and the murder of our son.". [1][15][16] Miller's body was found floating in the water, and Witheridge's on the beach;[17] the bodies lay approximately 20 metres apart and 30 metres away from their hotel (Ocean View Bungalows). Thai king commutes Myanmar men's death sentence over Britons' murder, Thailand backpacker murders: Burmese workers sentenced to death, British backpacker murder case that put Thailand on trial, WhyUK role in backpackers murder case still worries rights groups, Why UK role in case still worries rights groups, in a statement released by the Foreign Office. 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. According to reports, both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. (Thailand is the worlds third-largest seafood exporter.) [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. A process of registering irregular Burmese migrant workers has been introduced to tackle the semiofficial bribes, though many say abuses continue unabated. hannah witheridge and david miller - diyalab.com [38] Police entered the home the next day; only one of the men, Zaw Lin, was present. The experience was clearly a very difficult one, with relatives walking out at one point when the court was shown images of Witheridges body, and heard details of her injuries. This is the wild west.. [79] Rumours began to circulate, with residents on the island saying the island is controlled by a mafia who "have information about the true culprits", and claimed that the police is covering for them. [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. The names of the tourists were first announced in a Sky News tweet. Laura Daniels, 30, has died five years after sister Hannah, 23,. [93] Amid the investigation, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul visited Koh Tao on 28 September 2014 in an attempt to reassure tourists. Wai was also convicted of theft and pled guilty to entering the country illegally, while Zaw was not charged since he held a work permitfor the two years preceding the murders. Thailand backpacker murders: David Miller and Hannah Witheridge - two Forensic evidence is processed independently in the U.S. or U.K. and many other jurisdictions around the world, safeguarding a proper chain of custody. However, Zaw and Wai retracted their confession after they were allowed legal counsel, with a consulate lawyer for Myanmar alleging their clients had been beaten, tortured, and threatened to make the admissions necessary to close the widely publicized case. Thai murder: David Miller died from head injuries - BBC News The trial drew wide criticism from the international press and human rights groups. [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. Thailands National Human Rights Commission investigated these allegations, but progress has been glacial, not least because police representatives failed to turn up to four arranged meetings. [15] Experts have considered the forensic investigation to have been incompetent, and to have possibly framed the suspects. When the authorities were unable to pin the crime on migrant workers, they turned their attention toward Western tourists related to the victims. But in the early hours of 15 September last year the pair, who were together on the beach after leaving a nearby bar, died next to each other in the most horrific circumstances. . Will [tourists] survive in Thailand if they dress in bikinis? he asked Sept. 17. +(91)-9821210096 | paula deen meatloaf with brown gravy. 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. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. A mute Burmese beach cleaner discovered the bodies shortly after dawn the following morning at Ocean View Bungalows. Thai court upholds death penalty over murder of two Britons She was just a brilliant person, and she was just irreplaceable. [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 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. David and Hannah were seen together at a local pub called AC Bar with friends on September 14th, according to reports, before they left together at 1:00 am. Scared is right. The BBC reports that police in the area believe the man has already escaped Koh Tao. However, the investigators quickly dismissed him as a suspect. 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. Post-mortems found that Hannah had died from head wounds, while engineering student Mr Miller suffered severe blows to his head and drowned. Hannah was also raped. Sky News reports that Miller was chopped in the back and the side of his head, Witheridges injuries were to her head. However, the Thai police have denied these allegations and termed them baseless. Sister, 30, of murdered backpacker Hannah Witheridge dies Dilleen Hempel Murder: Who Killed Her? One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. [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". Read about our approach to external linking. All Rights Reserved. "Our thoughts are also with the Witheridge family and the tragic loss of their daughter. Miller had been a student at Victoria College, a fee-paying school on Jersey. The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. [47] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission attempted to investigate the allegations, but police representatives did not appear at four scheduled meetings. David Miller, 24, from Jersey, was found murdered alongside Hannah . Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. Case 220: Hannah Witheridge & David Miller : r/Casefile - Reddit The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. Their senseless deaths sparked international outrage and raised questions about j [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". But the seemingly idyllic paradise of Koh Tao, once known as Turtle Island, has turned from beauty to horror as a string of brutal murders and unexplained disappearances have rocked the community Witheridge is a native of Great Yarmouth in the Southwest coast of England. Sean McAnna, a terrified friend of murdered David Miller, flees Koh Tao Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, This Septic Isle: Backpackers, Bloodshed and the Secretive World of Koh Tao. Police obtained CCTV footage from local bars and restaurants and zeroed in on three men riding a motorcycle to 7-Eleven on the night of the murder. Koh Tao murders - Wikipedia But Koh Tao was a political penal colony from 1933 until 1947, and a sense of self-sufficiency and isolation exists to this day. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Once youve been living there for a while, youll turn a blind eye to some pretty sketchy stuff, says Mike Earley, 30, from New Zealand, who spent six months on the island working as a DJ. But generally they lose their lives through traffic accidents, overdoses and suicides. [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. Turtle Island's Dark Secret: The Case of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller 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. "[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". Home; Service. Miller, a year older and from Jersey, also suffered blows to the head and left to drown in the shallow surf. Zaw Lin was not convicted of this charge because he held a work permit for the two years preceding the murders. Their senseless deaths sparked international outrage and raised questions about justice on Koh Tao. David worked as an intern in the St Helier offices of the Australian mining company Consolidated Minerals. 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 next in size is Koh Phangan, home of the infamous Full Moon parties, with a reputation for drugs and debauchery. They toil in slavelike conditions for pitiful wages in occupations typically described as 3-D dirty, dangerous, degrading. [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. There are no official figures for the number of expats who call Thailand home, but it likely runs into the hundreds of thousands. Hannah Witheridge & David Miller Murders: Where Are Zaw Lin & Wai Phyo British backpacker Thailand murders: What happened to David Miller and A verdict is expected in October and they could face the death penalty if convicted. Sean . Thailand backpacker murders: Burmese workers sentenced to death And the shambolic investigation also didnt help.. [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. Case 220: Hannah Witheridge & David Miller. The hoe was then used to knock Witheridge unconscious, after which the defendants used force to hold her down and took turns raping her, before killing her with the hoe. [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. [53], The prosecution's case focused on findings of the police and medical examiner, with an emphasis on the DNA evidence. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. This is troubling when set against the allegations of torture made by the accused. Backpacker's family 'grateful' for Thai king's clemency 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. With no leads or suspects, the police wildly speculated who the culprit might be as they alleged several individuals to be the supposed killer without any evidence. But it unraveled just as quickly. However, the defense counsel argued all the evidence against the defendants was circumstantial, and the police had no known eyewitness to the murders. Thai beach murders: Hannah Witheridge's sister Laura dies in hospital Hannah Witheridge pictured on Facebook back in September 2013. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. Millers family also travelled to Koh Samui, the larger island near Koh Tao where the trial was held, to see some of the evidence. But many have concerns that the scene was contaminated immediately after the discovery of the bodies; myriad officials, journalists and even bewildered tourists were seen traipsing through the area while evidence was still being gathered. [59] The defence struggled to find members of the public willing to testify at the trial, as many feared retribution,[1][60] hence their alibi was not considered convincing by the court. The bodies of Mr Miller and Miss Witheridge were found on a beach on the Thai island of Koh Tao in 2014. Sister of murdered backpacker Hannah Witheridge was pregnant when she How Did Steven Beirnes Die? On tiny Koh Tao alone, there are some 2,000 expats alongside the 2,500 registered Thais, according to Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul. Little wonder the conversational staple of many long-term expats is, These are the worst Thais in Thailand.. She added, She always got along well on placement. In September 2014, the 23-year-oldUniversity of East Anglia graduate, who had been studying for a masters degree in speech and language therapy. 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. 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. The island of Koh Tao is located in Southern Thailand. Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. 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. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Burmese people are treated as second-class citizens, says Saksith. Her housemate Lucy Dunkley said, No one could say a bad word about her. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. They also raised concerns with the absence of legal counsel prior to the confession, as well as difficulties with translation and interpretation. Traditional longtail boats, a rainbow of scarves adorning their bows, bob on the lapping water of the glistening bay. How Did Steven Beirnes Die. His dad, Ian Miller, said, Its quite likely David was stepping in to assist a girl in trouble. Hannah Witheridge murder: Mum begged backpacker not to go to Thailand Greg Shepherd, 34, from Luton in the U.K., tells TIME he witnessed a man getting shot in the face in a bar north of Sairee Beach in the mid-2000s. "But in the end the truth has been revealed," the couple added. Both men, in their early 30s, are presumed to be serving their sentence in some Thailand prison. 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. grassroots elite basketball ; why does ted lasso have a southern accent . ; Photograph: PA. Rights groups have said the pair were used as scapegoats by the . According to the BBC, staff from the British embassy left for Koh Tao soon after the news broke of the murders. The police found a garden hoe and a wooden club nearby, which were quickly determined as the principal murder weapons. Two Burmese workers were sentenced to death in 2015,. [21][73], The death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment on 14 August 2020 following a royal decree to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday and "illustrate the king's clemency". Because we have learned for generations to take care of visitors. A brand new police station has been built with 40 full-time officers replacing the five previously based here. Zaw Lin, as pimply as any teen, chats eagerly of his love of Manchester United and star Portuguese winger Nani. 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. Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating drowning. Case over Hannah Witheridge and David Miller's deaths on Thai island Typically, they work seven days a week for a pittance, sleeping in bamboo shacks erected in jungle clearances. And right in the foreground, rising proudly from sliver sands, protrude a scattering of granite boulders, a furtive relic of this tranquil 21-sq-km (8 sq. A royal decree said the sentences had been reviewed to commemorate King Vajiralongkorn's birthday on 28 July and to "illustrate the king's clemency". One belonged to David, and one belonged to an unknown Asian male. They said Wai Phyo found the mobile phone dropped on the beach, and so he kept it. Sister of murdered Brit backpacker died 9 weeks into pregnancy and 'no Hannah had been bludgeoned to death a few feet from her room door alongside her fellow British tourist David Miller. 23 Sep 2014. [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. Pensions and incomes that would be less than optimum in Europe, say, or North America, can fund a life of carefree hedonism in Thailand. 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. 2023 BBC. [92], Thailand's government became concerned the murders may affect tourism to the country. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. Most are running guesthouses, eateries and scuba-diving operations or working as diving instructors. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. He was interrogated and captured while his clothes and motorcycle were seized as evidence. Is climate change killing Australian wine? DNA testing of casual workers was introduced and many migrants complained of rough interrogations, with some claiming that they were scalded with boiling water. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. Hannah Witheridge was a college student at the University of Essex and lived there, according to her Facebook page. My father died when I was very young, says Zaw Lin, so l left school aged 8 and started helping my mother in the fields when I was 10. Facing worsening poverty, around two years ago he paid a broker 5,000 baht ($150) to transport him to Koh Tao, heartened by tales hed heard of fellow villagers who had eked out a successful living there.
Sullivan And Cromwell Recruiting, Grassland Tertiary Consumers, Amy Digiovanna Barker, Snow Leopard Vodka 3 Litre, Articles D