Photograph: Alamy. ", The dad added that some of the witnesses they spoke to were "too frightened" to come forward which shows "how the culture is.". In 2018 in Cancn alone, there were 540 murders. Luke Miller 2016; Find the perfect koh tao murder stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. He had been dead about 10 days and had left to go snorkeling alone on November 8. It covers an area of about 21 km2. (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 . Buchanan who left Thailand in 2016 after receiving death threats for her reporting, reached out to the victims' families and formed a support group. GermanBernd Grotsch, 47, was found deadat his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. [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. [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. The police quickly closed the inquiry, stating that he had drowned whilst swimming. "I only had my suspicions, his body came back to me without a wallet or anything on him. The Backpacker Murders Of Koh Tao. What Really Happened There? She was also part of the Sathya Sai Baba cult and lived with a self-proclaimed 'guru'. It is believed they were tortured, then burned, before being chopped . The suspects were initially denied access to legal counsel, and alleged that police used torture and threats to secure a confession. A royal commutation does not require an admission of guilt. Martin Totland - Wedding Photographer - Ivory Grove | LinkedIn 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. 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 Bangkok Post - Topic They weren't looked down upon or treated poorly at all. A member of staff told police he heard four to five cries of someone in shock approximately 10 minutes . Due to the nature of her passing, our beautiful girl has had little privacy. "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. [50], An 18-day trial began on 8 July 2015 in the Koh Samui Provincial Court. 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. [47][75][12] Human Rights Watch said the case was "profoundly disturbing" and called for the verdict to be reviewed in a "transparent and fair appeal process". 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. 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. "Thai courts make little allowance for the feelings of relatives," he said. Police: Burmese men confess to killing British tourists | CNN Thailand backpacker murders: Victim's father weeps at photos Witheridge was travelling with three other friends, and Miller with two others. World put on alert as deadly virus spreads, Hundreds dead in horror cough syrup tragedy. 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. Witnesses said items belonging to the Moldovan were seen in the early hours of Tuesday morning and police were alerted. "They won't come forward because they know something is going to happen to them," he added. By. Koh Tao Cabana - UPDATED Prices, Reviews & Photos (Thailand) - Villa Heightened vigilance has been urged for all countries after two new deadly virus cases were detected in humans in China. Burmese migrant workers made up an additional 5,000, around 2,000 of these being illegal immigrants who bribe local police by paying 500 baht each month. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. "I got him home and they had a proper postmortem - most of his bones were broken but the one bone that wasn't broken was his neck and there was no evidence of his face looking towards his back. 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. We have done our own investigation and we are sure she was murdered. Available for both RF and RM licensing. The police investigation and criminal trial were widely criticised by international media, human rights organisations, and legal experts. [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". 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.. 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. [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. Death sentences in Koh Tao killings commuted. Staff checked her room to discover her mobile phone, passport and camera had all been left behind. Part of the reason for coming out, was to go to Koh Tao. Both entered through the Ranong Province, allegedly without presenting themselves at a port of entry and without possessing a passport. Autopsy points to sex, struggle in Koh Tao murders - Bangkok Post Upon arriving at the scene, police officers and rescue workers discovered the bodies of Mr Rakeshwar . 2023 BBC. [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. 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. Picture: Viral Press/Australscope [61], On July 10, the court ordered the DNA to be retested. On September 20, 1988, Tara Calico left her home in New Mexico to go on a bike ride she took, In November 1981, actress Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned off the coast of Southern California during a boating trip with her, In July 2014, 52 year old Lynn Messer mysteriously disappeared from her familys 260-acre farm in Bloomsdale, Missouri. 8.4K views 2 years ago Dedication to 20 foreigners who died on Koh Tao. [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". DNA was collected from these three areas and sent to a police forensics lab for analysis. Thai authorities claimed he was drunk and fell, but his family believes he was murdered.. 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. Zaw Lin was not convicted of this charge because he held a work permit for the two years preceding the murders. Wealth Businessman and Wife Found Dead in Koh Tao Resort Pool BBC correspondent Jonah Fisher said Miss Witheridge's father and brother sat with their heads bowed as the evidence was presented in court but continued listening. The more I was getting involved, the more I was reporting, the more upset the Thais would get," she added. The Backpacker Murders of Koh Tao. What really happened there? An inquest had been held in 2014 as his death was being treated as suspicious. 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. Andy was assisting the defence lawyers. He had recently returned to the island after building up a motorbike rental business. Ms Witheridge, from Hemsby in Norfolk, and Mr Miller, from Jersey, were murdered on the popular holiday island on September 15. [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. Hannah was raped before she was killed. About Nick Pearson they said he fell out of his bungalow and ended up drowning in the ocean. And the same goes for Luke Millers mum Sara Cotton. 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. Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs told the hearing that there were many injuries on Nick's body, including to the head, limbs, and face. Police received the initial report at 4.45pm on Friday. Family still seeking justice feature in new documentary on death of I have created a Facebook page and a YouTube channel dedicated to looking into tourist deaths on Koh Tao. German Bernd Grotsch's body was found at his home deep in the jungle in the Mae Haad part of Koh Tao. 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 5 am, a few hours after their deaths. Amnesty International has demanded the Thai authorities investigate the torture allegations after one suspect reportedly said he was beaten and threatened with electrocution. [90][91], The 2014 murders, along with other deaths and disappearances of tourists, led to British tabloids labelling Koh Tao as "Death Island". The body had to be identified using dental records and previous X-rays. THE BEST Rotherham Self-Guided Tours & Rentals (with Photos) [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". Bernd Grotsch 2017; Attempted murder by Thai diving instructor, Santi Khokpool in the Fishbowl Beach Bar, Koh Tao on 28-year-old British tourist on 15 August 2020. 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. Hell in Paradise: of Margaritas and Murders - UNRESERVED All times AEDT (GMT +11). Shelley Bot 2017; [29][30] The police initially speculated about who the culprit might be, alleging various individuals of perpetrating the crime without clear evidence. 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. 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 . [54] They argued that the defendants intended to kill Miller, using a hoe to hit him multiple times on the head. Father weeps at Thai murder photos. Murder of two backpackers on the island of Koh Tao The two men deny murdering Miss Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. [51] This decision was criticised by the Solicitors International Human Rights Group, one of the observers at the trial. 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. 851 River diver Videos, Royalty-free Stock River diver Footage He also had given no indications before his death, that he had suicidal thoughts. From the beginning, the Thai police had difficulty securing the crime scene. [42][43] Early police reports said Miller's mobile phone was also found in Zaw Lin's home,[44][45] although the media had previously reported the phone was handed to police by a friend of the victim. Today, we have gotten rid of them.. Controversy of Koh Tao murders - coconuts.co "At first, we accepted what the Thai authorities had said because we knew no different. The Koh Tao murders had a big impact on the island, it left a very deep impression! Some sources also refer to Wai Phyo as Win Zaw Htun. Two migrant workers from Myanmar on death row for the 2014 murder of two British backpackers on Koh Tao have had their sentences commuted to life in . [38] Both men were 22-year-old illegal migrant workers from Rakhine, Myanmar, who worked in the hospitality industry. The trial provided an obvious example of Scientific Fraud being used to convict two scapegoats. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. We are here for David because of his tragic 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. Koh Tao Murders March 28, 2022 courtneyjfretwell Uncategorized 1 Comment In September 2014, two European backpackers, Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found murdered on Sairee Beach on Thailand's island of Koh Tao. They had been brutally beaten to death just a few feet away from their hotel rooms. Police recovered the body and took it to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. [1][31] Pornthip Rojanasunand, a Thai forensic scientist, testified at the trial that the crime scene was poorly managed. Both victims had been hit several times on the head; Witheridge had been raped, and Miller had been drowned. Samyak Choudhary; and We won't comment on the trial process. Mr Miller's body was discovered with severe head injuries several metres away, he said. She added: "They didn't do any investigation at all. At the end of the trial's third day, the judge said police had informed him all the samples taken on the island were "finished" - meaning they could not be analysed again. 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. 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. Buchanan told the Sun Online: They all died in really mysterious circumstances- the Thai version of Christina Annesleys death was that she died of natural causes, she's 23! Thailand Vs Indonesia Odi Live Streaming Police major general, Surachate Hakparn, said in an interview that the police have cracked down on crime syndicates on Koh Tao since the backpackers double killing. Outcry from the international community over the death penalties upheld Some were murdered, some died in suspicious circumstances and some died in avoidable accidents. June 6, 2021. We'll be dignified for David. 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. [1][47] The national police chief, Somyot Poompanmoung, denied that torture was involved in the confessions. Thai beach deaths DNA evidence . "Then I started thinking what's going on here?". 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. Exclusive location in the Kitirua Conservancy. Hanspeter Suter 2014; 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. [1][51] According to an observer, the sittings lasted over ten hours each day. DESPITE its flawless beaches and crystal seas, Thailand has earned a deadly reputation after 60 Brits died there between 2014 and 2016 alone. 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. "We'll go with the flow as much as we can. [74], The investigation was met with criticism by international media, human rights groups, and legal experts. But among some foreigners, Koh Tao has taken on a more sinister reputation. A police officer told the trial of the severe injuries Miss Witheridge suffered and evidence she had been raped. 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. For example, she discovered that one of the DNA labs that conducted tests at the time only had accreditation to do paternity tests and not criminal profiling in a capital murder case. Our kids all died on Koh Tao 'death island' - cops claim they were accidents but we think they were MURDERED Aliki Kraterou Published: 13:58, 19 Mar 2022 Updated: 15:34, 19 Mar 2022 The. Theres a disproportionate amount of suspicious deaths on that island- and the link is that none of the families believe the police investigation or the information theyve been given. Administratively it is a subdistrict (tambon) of Ko Pha-ngan District (amphoe) of Surat Thani Province. [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. The convictions were mired in controversy, with supporters of the two men arguing they had been framed because their initial confessions were made under duress. [28], Due to concerns the murders might affect foreign tourism into Thailand, the national authorities sought to expedite the investigation into the murders. Corpse photos of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on internet These illegal workers often reside with friends on the island, making it difficult to identify them. 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.. Last modified on Wed 29 Nov 2017 23.45 EST. The bungalow is 50ft above the ocean, theres nothing but massive granite boulders between his bungalow and the ocean so how did he managed to tumble all the way down there? I was good friends with a few and they were all restaurant/bar owners. [15], Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo retracted their statements following a visit from a consular lawyer for Myanmar and said they had made their statements under duress, after they had allegedly been beaten, left naked in a freezing room, and threatened with electrocution and an extrajudicial killing. Also on the list of unexplained tourist deaths are French Dimitri Povse, 29, who was found hanged in a bungalow on New Year's Day 2015. [95] The mayor of the island, Chaiyan Turasakul, announced a new police station and staffed it with 40 full-time officers, compared to five previously. Taupin was ultimately not allowed to testify by the defence, and these issues were not raised by the defence until their closing statement. Police have, however, agreed to hand over the garden hoe which was the murder weapon, along with a shoe and a plastic bag. CTN News. Zaw Lin was said to have entered between 2011 and 2012, and Wai Phyo in 2012. 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. Elewana Tortilis camp is situated in the Western part of the Amboseli ecosystem, in the 30.0000-acre Kitirua Conservancy, bordering the Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Two of the victims were dismembered and disposed of in plastic bags. 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. Hotels near The Heart of Chechnya Hotels near State Gallery named after A. I shall post a link to your podcast on my Facebook page. What really happened there? There were no signs he was suicidal. 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.. Koh Tao: Millionaire couple found dead on Thailand's Death Island Available for both RF and RM licensing. 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.. [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. Hannah Witheridge 2014; Coincidentally, pictures of Bernd with a snake were to be found online. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. The police were under pressure to produce results quickly, which affected how they conducted their investigation. 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. None of the families believe that the way the police said they died is actually how they died and they are all very unhappy with the investigation. [30] Thailand's National Human Rights Commission said "the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the two Myanmar workers were dubious, leading to impressions the suspects were not aware of their rights and that justice had not been done". The following morning the family raised the alarm when Nick failed to answer the door. Koh Tao murders: "Person of interest" (updated Tuesday) 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. A judge found the workers guilty and sentenced them to death despite questions about DNA evidence and the police handling of the case. She had checked into the hostel on February 11 and was due to check out on February 16, but failed to do so. "They said they were going to cremate him the next day - I had to call the Home Office to stop the cremation. Thai beach murders: First pictures of British tourists killed They had no prior criminal records. Eight days later locals living near Tanote Bay found Elise's body after becoming suspicious of a monitor lizard going back and forth into the jungle. [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. Police concluded she wanted to break a deep-diving record at more than 24 meters. HARROWING photos of the corpses of English backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller have surfaced online, traumatising their families.