It has long had a reputation as a home for organized crime, corruption and as a place where the police protected local interests. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. She was part of the sect of the Sathya Sai Baba cult movement, and lived with a self-proclaimed "guru", and left the island on April 17 to return home. [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. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. Photographs of the bodies . He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. She said: "I would tell them to do everything in their power to stop them going. They raped and killed Hannah, and killed David who was attempting to fight them off. She was found dead in her bungalow with a mix of medication and alcohol in her system in 2015 - leading the coroner to ascertain she died of an accidental overdose. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. Valentina Novozhenova 2017; Nick Pearson, from Derby, was found floating in the sea on New Year's Day 2014. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. Hannah, 23, from Hemsby, Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao on September 15. 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. 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Hannah Witheridge 2014; The photos show his wife . This story was huge at the time in the UK as they were both British. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. Her dad Boyne said a toxicology report was not carried out. They had no prior criminal records. koh tao murders crime scene photos According to the Daily Mail, the District Attorney publicized the gruesome photos a week after they were presented to a jury. Prosecutors alleged that the double murder of Paul and Maggie was part of an effort by Murdaugh to gain sympathy and distract others from his significant financial crimes. [38] Both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. Now their families are demanding answers. [1], A defence team from Bangkok, composed of nearly 20 lawyers, were only permitted half an hour to meet the men; a request by the defence to delay the hearing and allow more time to prepare was denied by a judge at the Koh Samui Provincial Court. But, his sister Maria and the family told the BBC they would not rely on what Thai police said as there was still speculation over the circumstances surrounding the death - and that they had received 'different versions' of what might have happened. [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. Boyne Annesley believes his 23-year-old daughter Christina Annesley, of Orpington, southeast London, was murdered on Koh Tao Island in January 2015. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. KOH TAO, Thailand Promoters call the Thai island of Koh Tao a paradise. However, at that time I was already aware of other tourist deaths on the island. (415 ratings) Regular Price: 38.99 USD. A few days later, staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. 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. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. Rocio Gomez; [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. Nov. 3, 2018. Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. We'll be dignified for David. [21][25] There was tearing present at the vulva, bruising on the perineum, and a bite mark on her right nipple. Understanding powerlessness and vulnerability of migrants across Thailand, when combined with widespread criticism of this murder investigation and allegations of powerful actors influencing developments continues to produce deep distrust or suspicion that the real people responsible for . The body of 48 year old diving instructor Neil Giblin, from Birmingham, UK, was found dead in his rented bungalow on the island after he failed to turn up to a diving . [51][56][57] They argued that the defendants, since they were vulnerable as illegal migrant workers, were scapegoated by the police for the crime. They claim they did not receive an autopsy report and say his body was sent against their wishes to the same Bangkok hospital that carried out botched reports on the bodies of two Brits murdered on the same island in 2014. WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF 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. The victims have been named by Thai authorities as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth . Some of these workers said they can earn more money in Thailand compared to Myanmar. [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. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. 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. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. September 23, 2014 5:57 AM EDT T he brutal murder of British tourists Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, on the Thai resort island of Koh Tao, has reverberated around the world.. Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it Death Island. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. Their parents must be going through hell just like we are and we have been for the last almost two years. Thai police have said they will issue a summons for the British teenager raped on Koh Tao after her mother said she fled the island without reporting the crime because she feared for her life. Bitter divisions over Ukraine dominate G20 talks, Greek trains halted as anger over crash grows, Messages reveal battle over UK Covid policy, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool Grace Beahm Alford/The Post and Courier/Pool Diagram of crime scene. But they were skeptical and he was fit and healthy at the time of his death. The university graduate, who was two weeks. After weeks of investigations, Thai Police have arrested three Burmese man in relation to the murder of two British tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the holiday island of Koh Tao.The Burmese migrant worker community is on high alert and fears a firm respond to the killings on migrant workers inside Thailand by the Thai officials. The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. A young backpacker has become the latest tourist found dead on Thailand's notorious 'death island', Tanote Bay in Koh Tao where a backpacker was found dead on April 27, Sairee beach where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found bludgeoned to death, Chillingly, the death of Elise appears to have been suppressed by Thai authorities, Elise Dallemange, 30, here pictured with mum Michele, had been living at a yoga and tantra retreat, Elise had been travelling around Asia for the last two years, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered in September 2014, Hannah is pictured (right) with her sister Laura, Luke Miller was found dead in a swimming pool in Koh Tao, Thai police have been accused by his family for not investigating the murder fully, Christina Annesley, 23, died on the island in January 2015, Christina's parents slammed Thai authorities for failing to investigate the death, Nick Pearson's parents are convinced their son was murdered in Koh Tao, Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, vanished from her hostel on Koh Tao in March, She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, Frenchman Dimitri Povse, 29, was found hanged in a bungalow on the island. Hannah Witheridge and David Miller's bodies were found on a beach in Koh Tao in September 2014 Two Burmese migrants convicted over the killings had their death sentences reduced to life. [53], The prosecution's case focused on findings of the police and medical examiner, with an emphasis on the DNA evidence. He had not been questioned by police - even though officers had his name in their files. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. Samyak Choudhary; and [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. Samui Times defended its reporting in an online post. 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