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Controversially, Surat Thani governor Auaychai Innak dismissed as untrue some foreign news reports which claimed reptiles had eaten half of Dallemagne's body. Thailand backpackers murder trial: Hannah Witheridge's father weeps in Shared On: 28th Dec, 2022. 2040 / 2557, Regional Court of Appeal VIII No. The past three weeks have been unimaginably difficult and there are no words that can adequately describe the heartache and despair that our family is experiencing. GermanBernd Grotsch, 47, was found deadat his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. They are said to have confessed to the crime but later retracted their statements. Koh Tao ''Turtle Island'' or Ko Tao is an island in Thailand and is part of the Chumphon Archipelago on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? With crystal-clear waters, perfect sandy beaches, palm trees and great nightlife. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. The two are charged with the murder of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on . Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results By Coconuts Bangkok Oct 31, 2014 | 5:40pm Bangkok time Preliminary results today found no link between Warot Tuwichian and DNA police say was collected from the scene of two murders on Koh Tao last month. Amnesty International has demanded the Thai authorities investigate the torture allegations after one suspect reportedly said he was beaten and threatened with electrocution. [36] Footage near the crime scene also showed one of the three men running into a shortcut. CTN News. If you are interested, I have further information on my social media accounts. Speaking at the court, Mr Miller's father Ian said he and his wife Sue had come "with an open mind", adding that it had been an emotional time for the family. [4][11][14] Their bodies were discovered on Sairee Beach a few hours later, between 4 and 5am, by a mute Burmese beach cleaner. Wealth Businessman and Wife Found Dead in Koh Tao Resort Pool The island off the Surat Thani province coast has gained notoriety after a string of suspicious and sensationalised deaths over the years. Valentina Novozhenova 2017; [67] Protesters called for the release of the two suspects, who they believed were innocent and scapegoated for the crime. Koh Tao murders: Thai court upholds death penalty for two men convicted 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. [38] Police entered the home the next day; only one of the men, Zaw Lin, was present. But "Turtle Island" has its dark side. It has a population of around 1,500 people and the main settlement is Ban Mae Hat. Police on the resort island of Koh Tao are investigation the drowning death of a wealth business man and his wife. [1][4][24] Witheridge's body indicated she had been raped. [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. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. But many cases appear very suspicious according to family members and insufficiently investigated. 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. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. I'm asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? (Washington D.C., February 27, 2023) - The Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) in Riyadh, used to prosecute "terrorism" cases in Saudi Arabia, has charged six former prominent SCC judges and four former judges of the High Court, the country's supreme court, with "high treason" - a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia - in its first secret hearing of the case on February 16, 2023, said . An English human rights activist by the name of Andy Hall asked me to put him in touch with the Melbourne forensic expert, Jane Taupin which I did. 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. Suzanne Buchanan Exposes The Sinister Truth Behind "The Backpacker Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Zaw Lin was not convicted of this charge because he held a work permit for the two years preceding the murders. Police: Burmese men confess to killing British tourists | CNN [7] Witheridge had completed undergraduate studies in education at the University of East Anglia and had started post-graduate studies in speech and language therapy at the University of Essex. Why are the police not thoroughly investigating, why are they changing facts? We beg that Hannah and David are afforded privacy and dignity through the removal of these pointless and insensitive reminders. Shocked cries in Ko Tao billionaire's death - Thai Examiner Floods trap up to 15,000 tourists in Thailand - NZ Herald Constance Marten seen leaving court after appearing before magistrates charged with manslaughter of baby, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon blow each other a kiss in dock before court hears dead baby was found in bag in shed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on Canford Heath, Thai police covered up what really happened, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. [23] Local residents blocked the pier to prevent the unidentified killers from leaving the island. Pol Maj Gen Pornchai Sutheerakhun, director of the Institute of Forensic Science at Police General Hospital in Bangkok, said There were wounds around the neck due to the hanging and some non-fatal bruises in the head, and no drugs were found in the body. [29][30] The police initially speculated about who the culprit might be, alleging various individuals of perpetrating the crime without clear evidence. Martin Totland Frilans. In December 2015, the pair were convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. The evidence in the form of this Unendorsed Report would have been ruled as inadmissible in US courts and other Western courts. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. [25] There were no known eyewitnesses to the murders. 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. Their bodies were found on a beach on the island of Koh Tao last September. Christina Annesley 2015; Khao San Lomprayah - 2100 arrives Koh Tao 0845 > check prices for Bangkok to Koha Tao night bus and ferry and book now. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. [14][22] The police moved the bodies to prevent them being swept up in the rising tide. Hell in Paradise: of Margaritas and Murders - UNRESERVED 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. Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . 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.. 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 . [5][40] The commutation was welcomed by Miller's family. Saudi Arabia | Saudi Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty against 10 Former The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Koh Tao (also Ko Tao) - literally Turtle Island in the Chumphon Archipelago. 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. The bodies of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014. . The family has contested the police version of events. Thailand's paradise island murder mystery continues to baffle police, BBC's south-east Asia correspondent reports from Koh Tao. Her mother, Michele claimed that Elise used a fake name of 'Elise Dubuis' to check into the Triple B Bungalows next to Mae Head Pier on Koh Tao. The government of Thailand was concerned the murders might affect tourism to the island, with arrivals dropping in the months following the murders. Outcry from the international community over the death penalties upheld 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". [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. They suggested that she mixed antibiotics with alcohol- as much as that would make the antibiotics less efficient or make you feel bad, its not going to kill you. Administratively it is a subdistrict (tambon) of Ko Pha-ngan District (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province. CONFESSION WITHDRAWN: Burmese suspect claims he was beaten, tortured by police. [72] The Supreme Court of Thailand upheld the sentence in August 2019, stating that the police handled the case correctly and the forensic evidence was "clear, credible, and detailed". He said more security cameras would be installed on beaches. Thai beach murders: First pictures of British tourists battered to death on island The victims of the attack in Koh Tao have been named as 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge from Great Yarmouth. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Friends and family remain suspicious of the police investigation and the insistence that Dimitri committed suicide, especially as his hands were tied behind his back. 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.. They believed he had accidentally drowned and he was thought to have been dead for around 12 hours when his body was retrieved. The murders on Koh Tao, a laid-back haven for divers, sullied Thailand's image in the tourism industry, which accounts for about 10 per cent of the country's economy. "[56] Attempts to appeal the sentence to the High Court in 2017 were unsuccessful. 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.. There were no signs he was suicidal. 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.. Samyak Choudhary; and Direct quotations from the trial are unavailable, as the judges did not permit the public to take notes. All times AEDT (GMT +11). About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. Cart. Japan high court approves posthumous retrial of man over 1984 murder Our daughter died on 'Death Island' - was it tragic accident or murder Ten days after he went missing from Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, the body of Swiss tourist Hans Peter Suter, 44, was washed ashore at Talay Ngam beach in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Tuesday, November 18, 2014. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. Unfortunately, the Thai defence lawyers did not call Ms Taupin to give evidence even though she was available. "There was no compassion at all- he had to go down to identify the body which he couldn't do and while he was sitting there the police were just laughing. We admit that in the past, there was a mafia there that took advantage of tourists. Zaw Lin, front, and Wai Phyo (also known as Win Zaw Htun), rear, arrive at the court in Koh Samui, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, Zoom boss Greg Tomb fired without cause, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life for double murder, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus. Now their families are demanding answers. Elise went 1.5 miles (2.5km) through the jungle to Tanote Bay and took a room at the Poseidon Resort where she booked another ticket for Bangkok leaving on April 24. Measuring 21 square kilometres (8sqmi) in area, it is the smallest of three popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Alexandr Bucspun, 33, from Moldova, was found dead in the sea off Had Sai Ree on Koh Tao on Tuesday, October 9, 2018. We are here for David because of his tragic death. 10 July 2015. Virat Asavachin (Mr Ban) 2002; 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. Koh Tao Cabana - UPDATED Prices, Reviews & Photos (Thailand) - Villa In fact, during one 36-hour spell in April last year, nine people were murdered there. Nick Pearson 2014; Hotel owner Rakeshwar Sachathamakul has been found dead along with his wife in a luxury resort on Koh Tao. [87][88] The protests angered Thailand's prime minister, who believed the demonstrations were a plot "instigated" to hurt the government. View our online Press Pack. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. 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. Available for both RF and RM licensing. "As long as I can breathe I will keep trying to find answers.". How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Six weeks on . [53], The prosecution's case focused on findings of the police and medical examiner, with an emphasis on the DNA evidence. Rockefeller Audio 2022. [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". Bergen Area, Norway. Thai authorities claimed he was drunk and fell, but his family believes he was murdered.. 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. [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. Post-mortems found that Hannah had died from head wounds, while engineering student Mr Miller suffered severe blows to his head and drowned. [11], An autopsy revealed that both victims were hit by a hard object resulting in head and face wounds. We are furious that we have not been able to have an approved independent forensic examination.". Hanspeter Suter 2014; The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? A great number of Western backpackers have died under unexplained circumstances on this tiny tropical island in the past years. Since then the Samui Times has been inundated with . 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 defendants have repeatedly stated their innocence over the murders, with the defence alleging they were framed. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The families are not satisfied with the investigation by the Thai authorities, Christina Annesley was found dead on the beach in January 2015, Thai authorities said Ben Harrington,32, died when he crashed during a moped ride, The families have not been satisfied with the investigation of the Thai authorities, Luke Miller was found dead at the bottom of a pool, Elise Dallemange was found dead in the jungle in Koh Tao, The Curse of the turtle was released earlier this month, Bernd Grotsch from Germany was found dead at his house in Koh Tao, Valentina Novozhyonova vanished from her hostel, Suzanne Buchanan is determined to find out the truth about Koh Tao, Our kids all died on Koh Tao death island cops claim they were accidents but we think they were MURDERED, Headteacher sacked 'after sending parents a list of striking teachers' as school launches probe, Isle of Innisfree ferry: Blaze breaks out on boat carrying 183 people in English Channel as lifeboats scramble to scene. While police ruled out foul play, Nick's family, who say officers did not investigate a single witness, believe he was murdered. The images shown to the court were graphic, reports Jonah Fisher in Thailand. British backpacker murders: Anonymous hacks Thai police websites in In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailands island of Koh Tao. [38] Both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. 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.. [47] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission attempted to investigate the allegations, but police representatives did not appear at four scheduled meetings. 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. As the Witheridge family prepares for Hannahs funeral, her parents, Sue and Tony Witheridge, released this statement: Time makes the pain of this horrendous tragedy no easier to bear. Koh Tao, Thailand, Serial killers, Unexplained murders WARNING CONTAINS SOME DISTURBING IMAGES OF DEATH The island of Koh Tao, off the coast of Thailand, is often described as a paradise. [66], On 24 December 2015, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo were found guilty of murdering Witheridge and Miller by the three judges, and were sentenced to death. Andy was assisting the defence lawyers. We are like one big family, weve been through this journey for the past seven years together. She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. He originally moved to the island in the late 1990s but left in 2016 after becoming frustrated with the corruption and hostility towards foreign business owners. Im asking if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? [5][6] Both were students who were backpacking in Thailand. Koh Tao Murders: No DNA match with Warot in first test results Koh Tao murders: Thai court upholds death penalty for two men convicted of killing British backpackers . Get latest News Information, Articles on Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming Updated on December 27, 2018 19:20 with exclusive Pictures, photos & videos on Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming at Latestly.com - Page 18 As we continue with our plans for our beautiful Hannahs party, our thoughts are with David Millers family who are suffering the same indescribable agony. 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. [51][21] The trial was attended by external observers, including representatives from Amnesty International and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The team were only allowed to spend two hours on Koh Tao and did not meet with the suspects or defence. He had entered the country on September 26, 2018, before traveling to the island, where stayed at the Monsoon Gym and Fight Club. 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. DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. When Nick Pearson died the police didnt go to his room, they didnt interview anybody. Koh Tao Mayor Chaiyan Thurasakul said the website is accused of damaging Koh Taos reputation by calling it Death Island. In accepting the 2nd retrial plea, sought by the family of Hiromu Sakahara, who died of illness aged 75 while serving his term in 2011, the Osaka High Court said . Bernd had also recently separated from his wife, Oey, a Koh Tao native, with whom he had a seven-year-old daughter, Bene, who had been living for the last two years with his sister, Monica, in Germany. One of the men Mau Mau resided nearby. In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. 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. He announced that he had "ordered all security-related agencies to track down those who are behind the Myanmar demonstrations". He told the Sun Online: "We want justice. Find the perfect agent pastime stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Aug 2014 - Dec 20217 years 5 months. 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. [1][15][21], During an hours-long interrogation, during which the police used Burmese food vendors as interpreters[35] because the pair could not speak Thai,[41] the suspects confessed to the murders. Deaths have been explained away by the authorities as unfortunate accidents or suicides. Yearly, many professional photographers visit this lodge to capture herds of elephants crossing the dry lake in search of water . 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. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. She was dedicated, ambitious and would have made an amazing difference to the lives of many families through her chosen career as a Speech and Language Therapist. [88][89] Hacker group Anonymous published a video on 3 January 2016 criticising the verdict. Two Burmese migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaq Htun, both 21, have been accused of murdering the two backpackers and of raping Hannah.