I am a legal practitioner in Perth, Western Australia who has been following events on Koh Tao very closely since the time of the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on 15 September 2014. GermanBernd Grotsch, 47, was found deadat his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. After searching, All rights reserved. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. [2] In 2014, the island had a population of around 5,000 locals. [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. He also had given no indications before his death, that he had suicidal thoughts. 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. 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. They had no prior criminal records. 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 are furious that we have not been able to have an approved independent forensic examination.". Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. 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. [20] Both bodies were found semi-naked;[21] a pile of clothes was found nearby. Creepy There is a big chance you will fall in love with this little paradise. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations". [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. [71], A lawyer for the men, Nakhon Chomphuchat, said "we will appeal as soon as we can, we have just got a copy of the court's verdict. Attempts to appeal the sentence failed, but a royal decree was issued by King Vajiralongkorn in 2020 commuting the death sentences to life imprisonment. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Lightboxes. 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. 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. "We asked for a copy of the CCTV footage and they said it was destroyed. Thailand is one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations with around 35 million visitors each year and promotes itself as the Land of Smiles. The government is sensitive to criticism that could undermine the countrys reputation. When Nick Pearson died the police didnt go to his room, they didnt interview anybody. Top Kurunegala Forests: See reviews and photos of Forests in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka on Tripadvisor. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Both were found dead on the bottom of a swimming pool at a seaside resort on Koh Tao in Surat Thani. While his death was ruled as suicide cops could not explain why his hands are tied behind his back. The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. Bernd Grotsch 2017; [58] Ostensibly, Wai Phyo changed jobs at the end of September and was travelling by boat to Surat Thani for his new job on the day he was arrested. It covers an area of about 21 km2. British Bricklayer Luke Miller, 26, was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach on January 6, 2016. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. Derby coroner Louise Pinder said there was not enough evidence to say how he died and recorded an open verdict. Martin Totland Frilans. Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. 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". 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.. Koh Tao--a small island in the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by pristine beaches, swathed in sunshine, and a mecca for tourists, divers and backpackers. [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. 2023 BBC. [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. 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. Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. Koh Tao Murder - Thai Police, their scapegoats and tourist trade - Exposed by AnonymousThis video goes into the deep facts of the recent Koh Tao Island murder of David Miller and Hannah. The following month Russian Valentina Novozhyonova, 23,vanished from her hostel sparking a police search. Its just really shoddy investigation work- I personally think theres something going on on that island. "We'll go with the flow as much as we can. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. Enterprise. Police investigators have released photographs and clearer video footage of an unidentified man they believe could be a key to resolving the Koh Tao double-murder case and are asking the. Miller had scratches on his back and water in his lungs indicating drowning. [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. [70] Wai Phyo was also convicted of theft for allegedly stealing a phone and sunglasses from Miller's body. [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Suter had been a regular snorkeler and his death was totally unexplained. ", The dad added that some of the witnesses they spoke to were "too frightened" to come forward which shows "how the culture is.". Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. Hannah was also raped in the attack. [83] A 2016 study said the case, which it described as a litmus test of Thailand's justice system, "seriously damaged the image of Thailand and of its forces of law and order on the global level". To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. 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. Yoshie Sazawa (Sharlyn) 2004; The island off the Surat Thani province coast has gained notoriety after a string of suspicious and sensationalised deaths over the years. 2040 / 2557", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koh_Tao_murders&oldid=1135707447, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 10:00. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. From: kohtao. 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 5am, a few hours after their deaths. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? How are they ever going to get closure and justice if they dont know what happened? 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. Regional Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatphum said the Koh Tao murders had dealt a serious blow to tourism. Read about our approach to external linking. "[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". Posts on social media said Dallemagne had booked a ticket to Chumphon province, on the mainland, and that her luggage arrived after her death, raising questions of her intentions to take her own life. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. Sun 23 Nov 2014 10.54 EST. 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. They still maintain their innocence, as they did throughout the trial. [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. It has a population of around 1,500 people and the main settlement is Ban Mae Hat. 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". Six weeks on . But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. 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. Rocio Gomez; [63] They plead not guilty to the charge at the trial, but Wai Phyo changed his plea to guilty during the proceedings. Staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. 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. The head of the country's Central Institute of Forensic Science found that the DNA on the hoe did not match the defendants. I was told on more than one occasion that I needed to take down this stuff from the paper. Controversially, Surat Thani governor Auaychai Innak dismissed as untrue some foreign news reports which claimed reptiles had eaten half of Dallemagne's body. 24, after their battered bodies were found on a beach on the southern resort island of . [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, it has always been shrouded by a dark mystery. They said Wai Phyo found the mobile phone dropped on the beach, and so he kept it. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. Nick Pearson, 25, was found floating in an island bay, at the foot of a 50ft drop by scuba divers in the sea after he disappeared following a night out with his family on New Year's Eve. [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. The DNA analysis in the case, which was not subject to independent oversight or verification, was provided to the court as a one-page summary with four supporting pages, some of it handwritten with amendments. Only if they are not beautiful." About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. [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. 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. DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. Investigators had no theory to explain her unexpected stopover on Koh Tao on her way back to the mainland and the capital Bangkok. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. [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. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered.
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