Thai police are investigating their deaths as . The families of the young Brits who mysteriously lost their lives in Koh Tao have vowed to find out the truth and say something dodgy is going on., The grieving families have formed a support group following the death of their children on the Thai island, dubbed death island.. Top Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals: See reviews and photos of Self-Guided Tours & Rentals in Rotherham, England on Tripadvisor. 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. However, no toxicology report was conducted. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. [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. [90][91], The 2014 murders, along with other deaths and disappearances of tourists, led to British tabloids labelling Koh Tao as "Death Island". [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 Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. 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. He started another business in neighboring island Koh Phayam before returning in March 2018 to "tie up loose ends". Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. Although Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful islands in Thai. He also had given no indications before his death, that he had suicidal thoughts. The families of Miss Witheridge and Mr Miller are now returning to the UK. 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.. [31] They focused on foreign nationals, with a spokesperson for the police claiming "Thais wouldn't do this". I shall post a link to your podcast on my Facebook page. He later apologised for the comment after it was met with public backlash. DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. 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. There is an alternative bus and ferry service run by Songserm, which is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao. He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Hannah was a University of Essex student from Hemsby in Norfolk, UK, and David was a civil and structural engineering graduate, from Jersey. That is awful. [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". Thai police say the man on the left matches the one seen acting suspiciously on CCTV A Scottish man is being kept in protective custody in Thailand after a photo he took could identify the murderer. WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH. [80][81], The Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, said "[foreign female tourists] think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis wherever they like. HARROWING photos of the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families. "They won't come forward because they know something is going to happen to them," he added. Although Koh Tao is one of the . Hannah was raped before she was killed. 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. 10 July 2015. By. ", Mrs Miller said: "It's been hard, very hard. 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. [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". I should add that I was not representing the accused men so I am not presenting arguments on their behalf in any lawyer/client relationship. Allegations about police brutality rocked the countrys economy that almost solely relies on tourism. [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. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so. [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". They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements. 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. Island authorities sued the online news site for violating the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws uploading false information online. Are there serial killers operating on the island, with their crimes apparently insufficiently investigated so that the tourist industry remains protected? We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. Irregular Burmese migrant workers were now required to register with the police in an attempt to discourage illegal workers and prevent bribery. Samui Times defended its reporting in an online post. 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. A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. The prosecution says a DNA match between samples found on Miss Witheridge's body and the two defendants is central to its case. [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. Hannah Witheridge was seen walking through Koh Tao with a group of friends - all of whom are thought to be British - just hours before being brutally murdered +17 View gallery The 23-year-old. [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. It is not known who released the photos from the crime scene. Elise Dallemagne 2017; Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Get latest News Information, Articles on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming Updated on December 27, 2018 19:20 with exclusive Pictures, photos & videos on Thailand Vs Indonesia Live Streaming at Latestly.com - Page 18 A UK autopsy later revealedBen died of a transected aorta a rupture of the bodys largest artery rather than a broken neck. The island is small and gifted with loads of hidden gems and completely deserted bays. 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. 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. Its just really shoddy investigation work- I personally think theres something going on on that island. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope Mr Sachathamakul's wife, Anshoo. 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. There were no signs of fighting or a struggle, nor were foreign objects or substances that could cause loss of consciousness found in the body.. The former founder of the Samui Times suggests in her new book The curse of the Turtle, released earlier this month by WildBlue Press, that something fishy is going on on that island., She challenges the validity of the investigations conducted by the Thai police claiming she has a lot of evidence and speaks of powerful local families running the island without having to comply with any laws. What really happened there? The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. It leaves Khao San Songserm at either 1800 or 1900. Their findings were never made public, but were shared with the families of the victims. The evidence in the form of this Unendorsed Report would have been ruled as inadmissible in US courts and other Western courts. [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. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? "As long as I can breathe I will keep trying to find answers.". There were no witnesses. The relevant standard in this case was ISO 17025. [31] A British defence lawyer, Felicity Gerry QC, said the trial was "far too rushed and unfair to the defense". News back pack murders in koh tao 2014 koh tao koh tao island mystery news in Thailand Thaiger news thailand thailand crime Thailand News thailand tourist thailand tourist . All times AEDT (GMT +11). Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, "This Septic Isle: Backpackers, Bloodshed and the Secretive World of Koh Tao", "Links revealed between police and migrants on Koh Tao", "Police: Still no suspect in killings of Britons on idyllic Thai island", "Thai king commutes death sentence of UK pair's killers", "Thailand: Hannah Witheridge 'raped by two men before being killed', "Thailand backpacker murders: David Miller and Hannah Witheridge - two lives cut short", "Thailand murders: Victims' families talk of senseless killings", "Hannah Witheridge's family pay tribute to "beautiful, intelligent, loving young woman", "British backpackers murdered in Thailand named as Hannah Witheridge and David Miller", "Thailand murders: Amnesty International call for police torture probe", Koh Samui Provincial Court No. 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. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. [51][56][57] They argued that the defendants, since they were vulnerable as illegal migrant workers, were scapegoated by the police for the crime. [85][15][86] Prayut said that British and Burmese government representatives were "limited to observation" and had to "respect our processes". Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. [49] Wai Phyo was also charged with stealing Miller's phone. They stated they were driven by a desire to rape the victim following sexual arousal when they saw the couple kissing on the beach. At least eleven European tourists have died or disappeared there since 2014 and it is now described as Death Island or Murder Island. Cart. Yearly, many professional photographers visit this lodge to capture herds of elephants crossing the dry lake in search of water . 8.4K views 2 years ago Dedication to 20 foreigners who died on Koh Tao. [11][19] Several other suspects were also named, amid pressure to produce results, a new one every other day. 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. [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. Nick Pearson 2014; British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found dead Monday, September 15, on a beach in Koh Tao, a popular resort island in Thailand. Nick's father, Graham, had been the last person to see him when he walked with his son back to where the family was staying. Although both of his hands were tied behind the back, the police said he could have done this himself as the rope was tied to one hand and a loop was made so the other hand could be inserted. [53], The prosecution's case focused on findings of the police and medical examiner, with an emphasis on the DNA evidence. "I have no proof that Ben was murdered. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. "We identified a person who was with her last and they didn't follow up with them- then we asked for a blood sample and they delayed. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun). DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. [2] In 2014, the island had a population of around 5,000 locals. 92 Visitor. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. "Then I started thinking what's going on here?". The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. [51] The defence provided a separate explanation for the events on the night. 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. Hiroshi 2002; UK reporter Suzanne Buchanan has thoroughly investigated the cases alongside the deaths of Belgian Elise Dellemange, Swiss Hans Peter Suter and French Dimitri Povse -who also were also found dead under mysterious circumstances. He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. New Zealand's Minisrty of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says 185 Kiwis are registered as being in the flood affected areas of Koh Samui and Koh Tao and parts of southern Thailand, including . The defendants have repeatedly stated their innocence over the murders, with the defence alleging they were framed. About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6729031/thailand-koh-tao-island-dad-dead-mystery/, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-30546787, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/17/sister-murdered-backpacker-hannah-witheridge-dies-falling-gravely/, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-53797951, https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1282946/police-clarify-koh-tao-death-cases, https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1047575-death-island-riddle%C2%A0-koh-tao-mystery-deepens-as-%E2%80%98healthy%E2%80%99-dad-becomes-tenth-westerner-to-die-in-suspicious-circumstances/, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4680394/Haunting-final-image-Koh-Tao-backpacker-Thai-hang-suicide.html, https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/thailands-death-island-tourist-33-13399601, https://www.chiangraitimes.com/crime-chiang-rai-thailand/body-of-moldavian-tourist-found-dead-in-sea-off-the-island-koh-tao-sent-to-bangkok-for-thorough-autopsy/, https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/443983/suter-hanspeter-body-found-on-beach-in-chumphon-thailand, Koh Tao Murders, Suspicious Deaths, Fatal Accidents Tribute to 20 Foreigners Tony Lotus & 1Survivor, Tagged: Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise, Cases on the Death Island of Koh Tao, nick pearson koh tao death, The coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say where or how he met his death. We've all heard about the 2014 backpacker murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand. It followed her reporting on the case of a British girl who was allegedly raped on the same beach. [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. 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. [51], The prosecution also claimed the defendants entered the country in violation of the Immigration Act of 1979. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. It was said the pair went swimming on the same beach earlier that night, and when they got out of the water they found their clothes had disappeared. Here are the names of some of the other outsiders who died on Koh Tao: Ian Jacobs 2000; Buy images; Sell images; Lightboxes; 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. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Koh Tao is in the Chumphon Archipelago. There have been suspicious reports of hand-sized bruises found on Lukes shoulders. In January 2014, 25-year-old Nick Pearson was found dead in the sea below a cliff while visiting the island. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. Measuring 21 square kilometres (8sqmi) in area, it is the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand. A Japanese high court approved Monday a posthumous retrial for a man who was convicted of murdering a 69-year-old woman in 1984 in western Japan, upholding a lower court's decision. Koh Tao is a small and beautiful island in Southern Thailand, approximately 21 km, 30 km north of Koh Phan Gan and about 70 km from the Chumphon town. [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". 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.. 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. And at least six young Brits have all died in suspicious circumstances on the small island of Koh Tao, leading their loved ones to label it "Death Island". His family accused the Thai police of a cover-up. While collecting forensic evidence, tourists and locals were allowed to walk on the beach. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Rockefeller Audio 2022. Phone records showed that Elise called her mother on Skype on April 17, 2017, before leaving Koh Phangan on a Ferry on April 19.
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